The Whole Gang!

The whole Rock-N-Roll gang

Tanya, Tony (my cousin), Noreen (my mom), Pam, Dean (my dad), Cary, & Shelli

PFChang's Race Review

Shelli, Tanya, Pam & Cary

What I learned in Phoenix:

1. Always attend the expo as early as you can on the first day.

2. Always bring toilet paper.

3. Having family watch you run is AWESOME!

4. Orange Popsicles are yummy.

January 11th - My b-day, Shelli and I arrive in Phoenix and after a yummy burger @ Hard Rock Cafe. we hit the expo. This was my 6th big race or so and I've never been able to experience the expo on a friday...definitely worth it! Would totally recommend to anyone - hit the expo on its first day.

Saturday 12th - meet up with my sister and her friend who flew in from Denver then headed over to the expo. The expo was SOOOOO crowded! Quickly left then got a late lunch followed by a quick shopping trip at a beautiful mall. Meet family for dinner at a local Buca De Bebbo, then off to bed early.

Sunday 13th - Wake up call at 5:45AM (didn't need it though...already 1/2 dressed) My dad drove us down to the starting line. We posed for the picture above. After a few trips to the port-a-poddies, we were ready to go. The weather was perfect - upper 40's or lower 50's, sun shining and NO wind! It took about 45 minutes for us to cross the starting line...then we were off. Shelli and spent most of the first 6 or 7 miles weaving in and out of the walkers. Shelli was on fire and I spent all 13.1 miles trying to stay up with her. We were on target to do a 1.57 until mile 8 - we started slowing down a bit...but still finished with a 1.59. It was a great race. Support was great, food afterwards was great, plenty of people removing chips, plenty of bathrooms, gear check was great, and meeting up with family was quick and painless.

Someday when I get around to doing races over again - I will defiantly head back to phoenix.

If you write it down...it must come true.

This upcoming Sunday Shelli, my sister Cary, her friend Tonya, and myself will be in Phoenix running the 1/2 marathon. My goal is simple...beat my previous 1/2 marathon time of 1.57.10 (That was my time in Cowtown last February). I had run Cowtown by myself...actually with a friend - it was her first - but we didn't actually run the race together...anyway...this time I have Shelli - I have the entire plane ride to Phoenix to convince her to not let me give up on this goal and to push me HARD the entire 13. 1 miles.

I'll make sure I write when I get home Monday night - and hopefully I'll have a picture or two of Shelli and I.

And can I also say that I am extremely excitied about hitting the expo on Friday and Saturday...I am totally a running nerd.
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VERY Excited!

So...I ran today...albeit slow and walking some, but still...I went out and did it thanks to Pam! :*) I am very excited tonight though because my neighborhood association is starting a runner's club. There are about 30 interested people so they are doing courses, setting up running groups and putting water out on the course. The club starts on Saturday the 12th with a three mile run. Since today's three mile was a little strained, I have a lot of work to do to get it down by Saturday! Anyway, have a great week everyone! Happy running! BEST of luck to Pam and Shelly on the PF Chang's run and HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO PAM ON FRIDAY!

Funny, Pam

This is a picture of me and my mom at the Country Music Half in 2007!!!!

Funny, but I really don't have "TONS" to say Pam! I'm not very good at the blogging thing, so give me a few posts to warm-up to the idea. At the start of this year I am struggling to get some fitness back into my world. I was trining for White Rock and doing quite well when I just decided that I was tired of getting up at 5am to run 6, 8, or 10 miles a day and I just kind of gave up. Three months have passed, 15 extra pounds have planted themselves and now I have 16 weeks to lose weight, get back in shape and prepare for two back-to-back Half Marathon's! Mom and I are running the Country Music Half the last weekend in April and then I will run the Heels and Hills Half the first weekend in May. I still have the Luke's Locker training program sheets, so hopefully it will be as effective as it was a few months ago! I quit somewhere around week 18 so I am thinking that I am in pretty good shape as far as getting back on track!

Looking forward to my weekend runs in 60-70 degree weather this weekend! Whoohoooo!!!!!

Nike +

My wish came true - in the bottom of my stocking was the Nike + I don't run in Nike's...so after some googling and velcro...I attached the sensor to the top of my shoe under the laces. Did a quick run up to the high school track, calibrated the thing, then ran home. It was very uplifting to hear how I finished when I got home. No more trying to calculate my average mile time! The only down side was that my 3 mile route that I have been doing for years...is actually only 2.9 according to my Nike+

Other things I learned...there is a whole web of people using the Nike + Once you create an account you can create challenges and enter challenges. They even give badges to people that "win!" I haven't joined anything yet...but will definately keep you posted.