.5k recap.

Another weekend and another race for the YMCA! This weekend it was a 5k in Mankato, MN for the Girls on the Run Program. Girls on the Run is through the YMCA and is for preteen girls to learn healthy lifestyle choices, self-condfidence, and self respect through running. 

Before the race!

The weather on Saturday is kind of crappy. It was cold and rainy, but that didn't keep our spirits down. Plus as soon as it came near running time, the rain stopped, just like it was destiny. 

This was my first time running a road race without Dave by my side. 

Honestly, I now know that I LOVE having a running partner!

Due to running alone and having a million people pass me, I felt like I was the slowest person on earth. 

I just kept my head down and kept putting one foot in front of another. 

My time:

26min 44sec (8.37/mi)

a personal record (PR) for me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All of the family members that participated in the 5k!

The best thing about running the race in Mankato is that some of my family members came out and walked the 5k! I was sooooooo excited and happy that they came out to support a great cause and that they pushed themselves to do the walk! 

I honestly hope that we can do this again next year and

 maybe get more strong Hammond girls out there on that route!!!

I even got to run the Kids K with my little niece before the 5k!

Let me tell you..that little girl can RUN!

At one point, she turned around and said...

"Hurry Up, Slowpoke!" 

oh...she slays me! Here is us crossing the finish line together:

Maybe we have a future runner in the family!

.Snapshot Sunday.

Continuing with flashbacks this weekend...here is a picture from October 2007!

I'm super duper excited to see this lady today!

After living miles and miles and MILES apart..I finally live close enough to visit!

It's been far to long since we have been able to hang out

and just be our stupid selves! 

(oh my glasses...thank goodness I finally got some style)

.running flashback.

This is me after my first 5k, the AidsWalk in DC, in 2009. 

Thinking back on that run, I laugh at how silly I was and how far I have come. 

Right after crosses the finish line, I grabbed Dave feeling like I was going to collapse. 

When we got home, we ate HUGE burritos 

(thinking we HAD to refuel our bodies after SUCH a long run)

and then slept the rest of the day....

cause you know we RAN three miles! 

Our time that race was: 38min. 

Now 3 miles is a short run for us, 

no naps are needed after, 

and I don't feel like I have collapse. 

This 5k my goal is to run it in 30min!!

.Five (Random) Things Friday.

.TGIF.

(seriously....TGIF!)

This week, I am SOOOO excited that it's Friday! I have the weekend off (yay!) and it's my first day off in over 2 weeks......have I mentioned yet how excited I am for this!!! Our plans are to run a 5k in Mankato and then head off to Brandon, South Dakota to see a great friend and her 1 year old!

1) The only good things about the movie The Lucky One was Zac Efron riding a tractor and Zac Efron walking a bulldog and of course seeing lots of Zac Efron. Other than that, it was pretty bad. 

2) Last night I dreamed I was pregnant...lets just cross our fingers everyone that this will not be a reality for some time from now! Do you are have these dreams? Hmm.....I wonder what they mean? 

3) Working with a sick kid, sick co-workers, and running a 10k in the cold have FINALLY caught up with me and I'm feeling a little sick. I cross my fingers that I don't have to cancel my plans for the weekend. That would be the worst bummer....looking forward to a weekend off and then staying home!

4) Sometimes the best way to escape a long, crazy day is to take your dinner plate outside, eat at a picnic table, and enjoy good conversation and the sun on your face. 

5) On Saturday I'm a running the Girls on the Run 5K . This is SUUUUUCHHHH a great cause, it encourages pre-teen  girls to learn self respect, gain confidence, and teach them about having a healthy lifestyle through running. This will be the first race that my family will also be involved in: my sister is walking, my niece is running the Kids K, and my little cousin (who is in the program) will be their running too. I'm excited to do this with ones that I love!!! 

What are your plans this weekend?

.the little things.

Last week, I came home from work to find this on our guest bedroom door. 

Not sure what was going on I said hello through the door and 

went out for a run while the work continued in the little room. 

Dave was working on a little something to show me how much he loves me. 

*insert: AHHHHHHHHHHHH here*

He came up with the ABC's to why he loves me!

He isn't crafty but he tried and worked so hard on this project. 

He colored wooden alphabet pieces, glued them to the board, 

and then came up with something for each letter of the alphabet!

He then presented it to me by reading each of the things he wrote

and explaining them in more detail. 

My favorites: 

when he made up words to fit certain letters,

E: enemies - he wouldn't want to be mine, 

Z: Zac Efron...nothing more needed!

.He makes me feel like a lucky woman....a VERY lucky woman. 

.I love the -ave to our shoave. 

.Tuesday Tunes: Of Monsters and Men.

I have been in love with this song for the last month! Whenever I hear it I HAVE to sing along, raise my hands at the right moments in the song and shout out (listen and you will understand!).  As soon as I heard the song I went on itunes and purchased their EP and of course it's great!

Of Monsters and Men: Little Talks

So what are your thoughts on this Icelandic indie band?

.10k Results.

WE DID IT!!!!

Dave and I have officially run our first 10k! WHHOOOOOOOOOTTTTT!! I'm not going to lie this sucka was H-A-R-D and I hated the last 3 miles of it with almost my whole being. But I didn't stop!!!

Our Time:

1 hr 05 min 04 sec

10:30/mile

(15 min. earlier than my goal time!!!)

As you can tell from my ranting above this was NOT my favorite race (except for our great race time results)  and I probably won't run the Y Run again.  I felt that the race lacked in some areas that affected the mental part of my race. These things were: running the same track twice, not having water available at the miles it was stated to be, and not having volunteers cheer you on. So how did I survive? I will let you in on my tip/game: I pick a person in front of me and I make it my goal to pass them. It may take me a few miles before I get close enough to pass, but I don't stop trying until the end of the race! Using this game I was able to pass at least 4 people....that's a BIG deal for me!

I'm SOOO proud of us for not giving up and having a great race time!

Now it's time to keep running and prepare for our half marathon!!