Chicago Women's Half Race Report

Chicago Women's Half Marathon --- awesome view of the city behind the photo backdrop!

It was a super HOT race today - I think the temps started out in the 80's and it was humid.  I really didn't have a time-goal in mind for this race.  I had a tough week of Ironman Training ( 15 hours total of various swim, bike, run activities) - I didn't taper at all for this half-marathon which included a 30 mile bike with my sis-in-law to the Chicago Botanical Gardens yesterday.  So fun!  I knew it was going to be hot  - I tried Nuun for my hydration this time and also water.  I ate my usual blueberries at mile 9,  it was so hot and I really wasn't hungry but knew I needed to eat.  I had an oatmeal/greek yogurt/blueberry wrap for breakfast.  I know it's not a true test of what my Ironman will be like for nutrition, etc - but I was pleased with how things went today especially in the heat.  my legs felt good the entire race and i felt like i was doing better with my overall form - especially my swinging arm.   

Unofficial (Garmin) time - 1:38.32.  I think there was something wrong with my timing chip - ugh!  because I couldn't find my results online.  Based on my interpretations with my Garmin time i finished 7/575 in my age group and 49/3447 runners. 

some of my friends had their 20th high school reunion this weekend in Arkansas and they posted this picture of our 3200 meter relay team from 1993!  Our record still stands after 20 years!!!  amazing!! 

dance 2013 pictures

the dancing duck

 the dancers waiting for their awards

 a blurry picture - but jillian receives her 1st year participation award

 Helen receives her 2nd year participation award

 thank you Grandma for the beautiful flowers!

 

videos from dress rehearsal:   http://youtu.be/Z74jIhHYQHY  - jillian

http://youtu.be/QxeYUqE6SfI - Helen ballet
 http://youtu.be/2cIYTi2__1o - Helen tap



father's day 2013!

Pumpkinvine Ride - "Race" Report

Ross and I participated in the Pumpkinvine Ride on Saturday morning.  We really wanted to do the century ride, but had to choose the 65 mile route instead because the girls had to be at the auditorium at 1:30 for their dance recital.

I had a 4 hour ride scheduled for Saturday from my IM training program so this was a great way to get it done!  Ross and I did a 30 minute brick run right after finishing the 65 mile ride.  I was really glad to have him there because I think he really pushed me harder on the run that I would have pushed myself :)  We finished the 65 mile bike ride in 3:45 and did our brick run at an overall 8:20 pace.  I felt really good coming off the bike.  I did not bring my fuel belt to carry water  - I just grabbed a water bottle and carried it on the run.  I really wished I had my fuel belt - my arms and shoulders were a bit tired from biking - ugh!  But on the bright side, my feet were not numb coming off the bike  -- yay!

I have decided to focus on "real food" as my nutrition for my half and full Ironman this summer.  I have never really used GU or gels in any of my marathon training or races so I didn't want to start using these in my Ironman training.  I found a great cookbook called Feed Zone Portables by Thomas and Lim.  I have tried about 15 of the recipes in the book and I love all of them!  On Saturday, I took some waffles and applesauce with me.  I also put a mixture of oatmeal, walnuts, bread, and a banana mixed up in a fuel belt bottle.  I had an oatmeal/blueberry/greek yogurt burrito for breakfast before the ride started.  I also carried water and grape Nuun with me to drink.  My stomach felt great going into the run too.  I know it's not a true gauge of 112 miles on the bike into the run --- but I was really happy with the way that I felt.

During the ride, this guy came up behind us as we were fighting a headwind.  He said "you can draft off of me!"  He stayed with us for a few minutes and then moved on ahead.  We primarily biked through Amish country and naturally encountered a few horse and buggies.  The guy who wanted us to draft off of him - decided to draft off of the horse and buggy ahead of us.  In my mind, I knew this was not a good idea :)  .... you can probably guess what happened after a few minutes of this guy "drafting" off the horse and buggy .......... yep!  the horse pooped!  and I seriously thought I was going to wet my bike shorts!  I was laughing so hard watching this guy trying to dodge the poop!  In fact, I think I laughed for the next 5 miles just thinking about it! 

Last Day of School!

First Day of School - September 4, 2012

 Last Day of School - June 12, 2013

a little "graduation" treat!

 

 upside down picture - oops! - kid's teacher gifts --- movie passes!

 lunch buddies on the last day of school

 jayden's graduation treat

 graham had a swim party in the afternoon on his last day of school

 super-competitive jayden at his field day on the last day

 Helen crab-walking

 some of Helen's classmates

 some rocket math achievements

 jayden's class reading log celebrations - he informed me that the rows on the bottom of the page are him and another classmate ... they had to have additional space to continue their celebrations

yesterday was the last day of school ----- BUT today is the first day of summer school!  yay!

Cereal City 5k and 10k - my family's race report

 the runners are ready!

 jillian and Helen ran a portion of the 5k route - they wanted to "run" the whole route but I was a bit nervous leaving the boys at the finish line alone so we turned back after about a half mile.

 Graham coming around the corner to finish

 Jillian ready to run with Jayden

 Super fast Ross sets a 10k PR - 38 minutes!

 Jillian enjoying some chocolate milk!

 Aunt Erin finishing her first 10k!!

 Graham finishes the 5k in an amazing time of 23:44 --- 7:39 per mile!  Jayden finishes the 5k in an amazing time of 25:35 ---- 8:14 per mile.  I am so proud of them!

 Enjoying a bowl of cereal at the World's Largest Breakfast Table (the downtown roads are shut down and tables and tents are set up to serve cereal  - a tradition that Ross remembers participating in as a kid

 visiting Gina - a neighbor of Ross and Erin from where they grew up.

 the Cereal City Race would not be complete without a photo with Tony the Tiger

 Graham - 2 scoops of ice cream ... the prize for being 1st

 Jayden - the 2nd place face says it all ---- he was so upset that his brother beat him!

Aunt Erin, Jilly, and Tony.

Ribbon Cutting

the swim team needed some help cutting ribbons - so of course I said I would help!  I got these 6 rolls cut and brought them back to the coach - then she loaded my basket up with 5 more rolls!  needless to say I still have a blister on my finger from cutting :)  but I was able to sit down and catch up on some DVR'd shows from October and November :)  ....it's really funny to listen to political ads from election time.  I also couldn't help but remember that it was around the time that I was supposed to run the NYC Marathon...... I think it's safe to say that i'm just a little bit behind on my TV watching!