HAPPY HOUR

After my "big run" on Sunday, I actually fit in another run on Monday evening! I busted out my reflective vest and put on my head lamp and ran through my dark neighborhood streets. It felt great. Of course I haven't run since then. Tuesday I was a solo parent and running in the dark with the jogger just doesn't seem 1. safe and 2. appealing. Wednesday we had minor new house issues and had to go out that evening to find new paint colors asap.

But running at night gets me excited and reminds me of the days when I trained for CIM. I miss that. I am however super excited about the new Nathan Reflective Arm Sleeves!!! Fleet Feet Fair-Oaks and Fleet Feet Roseville have them in stock and it was all I could do at work last night not to buy a pair!

I sooo want the purple sleeves  . . . they even have a pocket on the arm for Gu or if you have a small mp3 player. Super sweet and VERY reflective. Maybe I'll add them to my Christmas list . . . Vans are you listening!?

Yesterday was Veterans Day however and my work and the Peanut's daycare were closed. So what did we do? We headed to Bounce Palace in Folsom! The Peanut has been going through a funny stage right now where she has been just thinking of things to say no matter if they apply or not. She has been "um'ing" a lot and most of the time sounds like the kid from American Pie . . . "mommy, remember that one time you took me to a bounce house?" It cracks me up every time and all week she had been saying it. Thus, come Thursday I dared the masses and took her to a bounce place. I made sure we were there upon opening but really that only gave us 10 minutes of "free" uninterrupted play before the giant herd of parents and their children arrived and took over Bounce Palace like an army. It was insane. The Peanut had fun for a while until "the big girl pushed me" . . . I heard her crying "mommy!" and thus I had to take off my shoes and climb into the bounce obstacle course and rescue my girl.

We left shortly after the "pushing" incident as I could tell the Peanut was getting quite tired. One thing bounce houses are guaranteed for is a deep nap later in the day.

In the jumpy bounce house

Normally the Peanut is all about doing stuff herself but for some strange reason yesterday I had to follow her almost EVERYWHERE which included going on and in all the bounce houses/slides and obstacle courses.

Super Slide

Yup, I even had to help her climb that (the ladder was busted). I am not going to lie, this thing was FUN!!! We must have climbed up that a hundred times. The slide part was super slippery. I definitely got a workout trying to push 35 lbs of Peanut up that ladder followed by myself. 

After Bounce Palace we did a few errands and then went back home. I had to get ready for work. While I was at work last night eyeing those arm bands among other things that are new in stock . . . Vans took the Peanut out for Happy Hour. Yup, he took our 2.5 year old to her first happy hour . . . 

Happy Hour Yogurt!

Our local yogurt shop does Happy Hour! Half off your yogurt! Sweet deal. I hope the new yogurt place in our new neighborhood will consider the same thing!



APPLE HILL HARVEST RUN

This race report is a little bit late because someone misplaced the camera.

This past Sunday was the Apple Hill Harvest Run. We did this run last year as a family with some friends and had a blast. Vans ran the 3.5 mile race last year and I ran it un-timed with the Peanut in the jogger. After the race we all enjoyed some snacks while the kids played on the playground near by. The weather was glorious.

This year? Well, picture the complete opposite. First issue was that it was daylight savings and normally I am a daylight savings junkie turning all our clocks back the night before making sure every single clock is changed. This year, I apparently have been way too busy and preoccupied that I had no idea it was even daylight savings time.

Needless to say, we all went to bed and then we all woke up at 7 am rushing around to be out the door by 7:30 so that we could make the long drive up to Apple Hill. Just as we were about to jump in the car I realized that it was daylight savings and we were a whole hour early! Vans was not thrilled as he could have used another hour of sleep. Oops.

We decided to hit the road regardless and just take our time and stop at a local Starbucks. The minute we hit the road the rain came down in sheets and buckets. The road was drenched and the wind was gusty. I kept thinking "oh man, I have to run in this?!"

When we finally got to Apple Hill I still needed to pick up my packet and get my bib. We were not quite sure how far we were parked from the race start but since it was down pouring outside, I decided to run and get my stuff and then come back to the car to tell Vans just how far from the start we were.

Holy cow was I soaked when I returned. It was raining that hard and not letting up. Vans and I decided that I'd run the race and he and the Peanut would stay put in the car where it was warm and dry. No sense all of us getting soaked and being miserable.

Of course the Starbucks and just sitting in the car made things a bit uncomfortable and so I had to take care of business by the car. Vans thought this was funny.

Shortly after I left for the race start. I found shelter under a tent briefly while the 8.5 milers started first. The number of runners was definitely lower compared to last year yet everyone that was out seemed amused by the rain. I don't mind running in the rain really but I do prefer being able to go home right away to warm up which I could not do after this race.

The race itself was uneventful. The hills are brutal on this course and I seemed to have forgotten that. I struggled on some of the climbs and all I kept thinking was "how on earth did I push a 25 lb toddler in a stroller last year?!" I don't recall my times or splits and I don't really care. I wasn't really racing. It just felt great to be running in a race.

Lucky for Vans and the Peanut, the 8.5 mile course ran right by our car giving them something to watch while I was out running too.

Raining so hard

Watching the runners

When I crossed the finished I chatted with a few friends who had also come out and then I high-tailed it to the car for some dry clothes and shelter.

Soaked to the bone

aaaah warm clothes!

I think this was probably the first time ever I have actually worn the race shirt the same day it was given. I had to, it was the warmest thing I had!

We left right away. I was shivering uncontrollably and made Vans stop at Peet's in El Dorado Hills so I could drink the hottest coffee I could find.

Overall, despite the horrible conditions, I still had fun and I have no doubts we'll be back next year regardless of the weather. Vans had already declared that next year is his turn to race and hopefully he'll no longer be injured and will be able to race.

The bonus for us next year is that our new home is only 30 minutes from Apple Hill so we can all sleep in a little later as long as we don't forget about daylight savings!

THAT'S NOT RIGHT

Today I did it. I went for a run! As I was getting ready this morning, the Peanut said "Mommy can I come with you?" Wow. She hardly ever asks to go with me in the stroller. She's 2.5 and not a huge fan of the jogging stroller unless we've convinced her we're heading to the park.

I said "sure sweety but we have to dress warm it's a little chilly outside." As I was getting her jacket on she looked at me and said "where's your jacket mommy?" Smart girl. I had to explain to her that I didn't have to wear one because I would be running and therefore getting warmer while she'd just be sitting. She gave me one of those looks like "yeah right mom." Again, smart girl.

Off we went. What an absolutely beautiful Saturday morning. I headed straight for the bike trail. It was busy not but crowded. Lots of runners and bikers out enjoying their morning.

Perfect fall morning

There were also a few walkers to which the Peanut said quite loudly "Mommy he's not running! Why is he not running?! That's not right!" I tried hard to stifle my laugh and explained that some people just prefer to walk. She said "but why!?" ha. She has been around running so much that she just assumes everyone runs and no one walks.

From that moment on, every walker we passed she'd declare "that's not right!"

My running partner

I ran down the bike trail and decided to run back on the levee road for a change of scenery for the Peanut. She decided that she wanted us to stop at the park. I couldn't argue with that, she'd been a perfect running partner thus far. So on our way home we stopped here:

The "big" park as she calls it

I have to admit, I was getting a little sad realizing that I would be leaving this beautiful neighborhood in a few weeks. We live in a beautiful and exercise friendly area but I know I will find other beautiful spots and parks to run to in the new neighborhood. When I was in my 20s I was sad I was moving out of midtown to East Sac and now in my 30s I am sad that I am leaving East Sac for El Dorado Hills.

Tomorrow is the Apple Hill Harvest Run. My family did it last year with me running with the stroller and Vans racing. This year he'll be sidelined with his ankle injury and I'll be running stroller free. It is supposed to be pouring tomorrow so that will make for an interesting race for all.

After today's run the Peanut enjoyed her lunch of chicken and brown rice. She worked up quite an appetite being my running partner and going up and down the slide at the park. What a great Saturday so far.

Mmm lunch!

LOOKING FORWARD

Tomorrow is the first Saturday I have had off in 6 weeks. I asked for it off to handle some moving situations we have going on but still, I am excited. This means I can wake up when I want (which will undoubtedly will be 7 am thanks to the Peanut) and do what I want in the morning before gearing up for new house stuff.

Most importantly, I will get to spend the day, the entire day, with this special girl . . .

I can hardly wait.

DISAPPEARING ACT

I am here. I am alive. I just have not had much to blog about let alone much time these days to blog.

Quick recap: I did not run the Four Bridges Half Marathon. My first ever DNS. I was upset but am okay with it. A great friend of mine finished it as her first ever half marathon and I am so very proud of her (GO SPY GIRL!).

Halloween was fantastic. The Peanut really got into it and we have some great video clips that I should down load and post . . . um, when I have time.

New home is slowly (very slowly) coming along. Lots of major and minor issues are popping up causing increased stressed levels by both Vans and myself.

I have been running but not consistently and not enough to even bother blogging about. Just enough though to keep me fairly sane and to keep the Halloween calories at bay . . . although not far at bay.

Hopefully soon I will have something to blog about. In fact, this very weekend we have a big family race the second annual in fact. I am excited and hope the weather holds up.  Until then, enjoy this Halloween photo of the Peanut and all of her friends.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN ROAR!

From the Peanut . . . ROAR!!!!!!!!!!!

COUSIN IT

Today I look like this:

Cousin It

I haven't written too much about it but back in February while I was training for Way Too Cool 50K and American River 50 I started getting this weird rash around my eyes. It didn't itch, it didn't hurt but it looked horrible. Over the months it has gotten worse and worse.

At first the doctors suspected poison oak since I was out trail running a lot and a few others on my team had also contact poison oak. But after months of creams it never went away. They shipped me off to a dermatologist who decided that I need to cut out all facial creams and make up (boy was I upset). Fine. I did that for almost a month and a half. It was scary but I also became accustom to not putting on any make up in the morning. It saved me some time.

Alas, the rash never went away and continued to get worse. About a month ago, they put me on a dosage of Prednisone (a terrible strong steroid). Three weeks on that and nothing changed (except some weight gain and some irritability).

Here comes the end of October and I am tired of trying all these "magic potions" that are not working. The final straw was a biopsy. So yesterday evening I had a biopsy done near my eye which produced a lot of blood and left me with two ugly stitches and a gnarly band aid covering the corner of my eye. Hence, Cousin It. I am wearing my hair in Cousin It fashion today to hide my bandage. Maybe I'll start a new trend.

The Peanut of course loves band aids and was super concerned when I came home with one last night. She thinks I need a Curious George band aid.

PS: Thank you to all those who commented on my last post. We are super excited but of course I spoke too soon . . . our moving date has been pushed back to the 19th of November instead of the 11th. Some construction issues have come up.