So tacos are pretty simple, and who doesn’t love the traditional beef tacos we all had growing up? Little fact about me: I did not eat meat (other than seafood) for many years. When I was pregnant with Ava, I craved steak and red meat like crazy, but as silly as it sounds was afraid to eat it in case my body had a strange reaction. So when she was about 4 months old, and the craving was still there (along with issues with iron levels) I bit the bullet…or steak in this case and started eating red meat again. Still no birds, but now we eat meat at least one night a week.
Over the past few months Jeff and I have been making a tradition of “Taco Tuesday” and have some form of tacos, fajitas, or nachos each week. When it comes to the seasoning for taco meat, I am not a huge fan of all of the added preservatives, but they’re just so good! So one night we decided to try and come up with our own. The kids aren’t into tacos so we were able to make it with some spice too. I also use a version of this recipe with my students but we tone it down a bit.
Again, I don’t measure everything so these are all estimates, but you can adjust according to your own preferences. If you don’t care for something, leave it out!
Basically I just mix all of these in a small ramekin:
2-3 TBSP Chili Powder (this is the “bulk” of the recipe for us)
Then a dash, pinch, or shake of each of the following:
Paprika
Ground cumin
Garlic powder
Dried Oregano
Crushed red pepper flakes
Cayenne pepper
(Sea salt and black pepper to taste-depends on my mood if I add them)
I usually use a very lean, all natural ground beef and just brown it in a large skillet over medium heat.
Drain beef, return to heat
Add seasoning mix, and 1/4-1/2 cups water, depending on amount of meat
Simmer for a few minutes and enjoy!
You may need to adjust the amounts depending on how much beef you use, I usually make 1 or 2 lbs so we have leftovers for taco salads or nachos later in the week or for lunches.
Since Cinco de Mayo is next week, we will be having “Taco Thursday” instead of Tuesday. We love any reason to celebrate and get the family together, and when tacos are involved it’s always great!
Here are some pics from our Cinco fun last year. I also made sombrero cookies and cactus cupcakes, and of course we had a pinata!
This past weekend we were once again on the road for Jeff’s series against Marist College. This was the first time I visited this area, so during the week as I planned out packing and driving, I also looked into what there was to do near the campus. I decided to only take Ava on this trip and make somewhat of a girl’s weekend out of it…sometimes I sense that she needs some “big girl” time, and since her little bro is totally in that “terrible two” buggy little brother stage, she deserved some Mommy and Daddy time. It was only about a 2 hour drive up to the hotel, and we headed up Friday evening picking up the head coach’s wife and daughter, (LA and K) on the way and got in around 9pm.
We were staying in Fishkill, which is about 20 minutes away from the campus. Of course one of the first things I check to see if the hotel has is a gym. For the first time in I don’t know how long they did not! So having done some research I found that in between the hotel and the campus there was the Walkway over the Hudson which was part of the Hudson Valley Rail Trail. It looked really neat, and a great place that I could run with the stroller.
So Saturday morning Ava and I got up, had some breakfast and went to check it out. As we drove down the road, we saw a bridge up ahead. I told Ava I thought that was the bridge we would be running over and she said “no way!”. It looked old, narrow and rickety and I was also a little apprehensive. We drove to a parking lot and found the stairs leading up to the bridge. When we got to the top, we had a pleasant surprise! It was absolutely beautiful. The bridge itself was very clean, wider than it appeared and the view was unbelievable. We had gotten there fairly early and pretty much had the whole bridge to ourselves.
The bridge alone is about 1.3 miles long and crosses over the Hudson River. We stopped a couple times to check out the view and take some pictures, and Ava ran with me for more than half of it. Once we crossed, she climbed into the stroller and we headed down the paved trail for another 4 miles.
Along the way we saw so many beautiful spots, lots of rocky cliffs, trees, old trains and buildings. About 2.5 miles from the bridge there was about a half mile stretch with fitness equipment you could do different exercises on. We saw a few bikers and walkers along the way, and even running tour group, which was pretty cool. For the most part it was empty and very peaceful. And definitely way better than a hotel treadmill! If you are ever out in that area, I highly recommend checking it out.
After our fantastic run (10 miles for me, about 1.5 for her) we headed back to the hotel to get ready for some baseball. Jeff’s team had a double header that day and the weather was great. It’s funny, Ava never seems like she is paying attention to the games but definitely takes an interest in what’s going on. They won the first game but lost the second. After the game, Ava ran over and jumped up on the fence and said to Jeff, “Daddy, you lost! But you won the first one. And you still have the third one tomorrow so it’s ok.” Our little motivational coach in the making!
Saturday night was our usual fun filled dinner out with the coaches, LA, and K. There was a Charlie Browns right across from the hotel so that was the easiest choice. After dinner, I overheard a sweet conversation between Ava and Jeff as I got ready for bed:
JB: “Ava, do you like these baseball weekends?”
A: “Yes I do!”
JB: “What do you like about them the most?”
A: “I love watching my dad!”
So my heart melted and I probably even teared up a little. Sometimes I worry that we do too much with the kids and being on the road. They stay up later, meals can be a little interesting, and they’re often more tired than usual on Monday mornings. But that right there helped remind me why we do it. I love sharing these great days with not only Jeff but with our kids. They see incredible places. They watch their daddy do what he loves. And they are exposed to so many things along the way.
We slept a little later on Sunday morning and then after a quick breakfast I was able to give Ava some promised pool time. She is such a little fish!
So here’s a confession. I was a competitive swimmer for pretty much my whole childhood. I was even a college swimmer. I have been a varsity swim coach for over ten years and absolutely love the sport. And I also was an ocean lifeguard for 14 years, only stopping when I had kids. I swim laps once in a while still, and wish I did more. BUT I have always hated hanging out in pools. Like recreational swimming. I never wanted to go to someone’s house and go in the pool and really don’t spend much time floating around in the ocean. Unless I’m working out, I am not a huge fan. Being splashed is torture to me. But for Ava, I do it. She loves it and I love watching her in the pool. So we swam for an hour, and I had a lot of fun with her.
On Saturday I had pointed out the bridge to LA and K and they had the same reaction Ava and I had about not wanting to go over it. I convinced them it was way better when you were up there and they would not regret trying it out. Sunday morning we packed up and all headed out to run, and planned on just going straight to the game from there. It was pretty much right across the street. We parked and walked up and we all ran separately. Ava stayed in the stroller the whole time, which was good because Sunday is clearly the busy day for the trail. There were so many people, some tours, and they were setting up for a Parkinson’s walk as well. But it was still a great run.
It’s funny, every trip we go on it seems there is some milestone, even a small one that happens and when I think back I remember the trip and the first time Ava did this, or Nolan said that. This past weekend Ava finally mastered chewing gum. Funny, but she has grown up so much through these seasons and I can still picture her learning to walk down hotel hallways and batting cages.
After a great win, we left the field and headed home, getting back just in time to meet my sister for dinner and be reunited with the little man. Then we unpacked and were back to business as usual. After school Monday I asked Ava if she was tired and she said yes. But it is totally worth it, and just meant an earlier bedtime.
“Fill your life with experiences, not things. Have stories to tell, not stuff to show.”
This past weekend I ran my second half marathon of 2016 in Asbury Park, NJ. Asbury Park has really done a lot to clean up the town and it has become one of our favorite places to visit that is close to home. The boardwalk has a great vibe with a cool historic feel, and the main street has great restaurants and shops. It’s always a great spot for a run, so I was excited to run a half there.
The run made bib pickup really easy with 3 different options in 3 different towns the week before the race. We were able to pick up our bibs at a nearby Sports Authority, and they gave us a participant coupon to use in the store…so we each bought a new top to complete our race day outfits.
Beth and I headed up to the race which was about a half hour drive from home. Parking was really easy, and the town had waived parking fees until later that afternoon which I thought was great. We parked in a lot and walked down to the convention center where the race would start. It was her first race so I wanted to make sure she knew exactly where the start was and when she should start her watch as she crossed the line.
Before we knew it, the national anthem was playing. I gave her a big hug and we split up based on pace groups. Then we were off. As soon as I started I didn’t feel right. I convinced myself that I would just run to finish and kept a steady pace, working hard not to get caught up in the excitement of the start while everyone raced by me. I really felt as though I was holding back, but as I passed the first mile marker I was surprised to see my first split was under 7:30.
I had a lot of concerns about this race based on my running style and preferences in races. I am always really nervous when a course is described as “flat and fast”. I’m more of a hilly, turn lots of corners girl, which was how the course at my previous half was. I am not a “racer” and really like to do the races for the experience and challenge but can still get competitive! After the first mile I decided to just try and keep that pace or a little slower and see what happened.
The course itself was beautiful. The sun was shining, and the temperature was pretty much perfect. There was definitely some wind, but I always expect that when running on the coast. We ran both on the boardwalk and through neighborhoods in Interlaken, Allenhurst, Deal, Ocean Grove, Bradley Beach and Avon by the Sea, which are all very pretty beach towns so there was plenty to see. There was a long stretch where we ran south and with the wind. I tried really hard to be smart during this part knowing that once we turned to head back to the finish we would be running directly into the wind.
As we looped back around to where the start was around mile 8, I saw my mom, sister, kids and my niece. There are a lot of times I don’t get to see them until the finish since they time out getting to the races based on when I will be done, so I was excited and it gave me a little boost to keep going. The last three miles were tough. The worst part was, I knew I was on pace to PR but my splits were increasing with the wind. There was a point in the race where I thought I would be able to get a sub-140 but I was starting to realize it was not going to be the day for that. But I kept my heart set on a best time either way.
I crossed the line in 140.58, which was almost a full minute faster that DC the month before. Considering how I felt during the race combined with the wind I was really happy with that. As always, the big hugs from Ava and Nolan were my favorite part. As I was holding Nolan and he was still cheering for me, “go mommy, go mommy”. So sweet.
We headed into the expo which was at the convention center and I got my race shirt which I really liked. We walked around a little, and then headed back to the finish to watch Beth finish her first half marathon. When we saw her coming I was so excited for her. I could see how happy and proud she was to get to that point. As I said before, the experiences and challenges are why I run. The best times, medals, and all of that are great, and a welcome reward for all of the hard work, but I really am someone who enjoys the training more than the race. And having been on this journey with her from the beginning it was beyond cool.
We headed back in to get Beth’s shirt, and the results were posted. I was pleasantly surprised to see that I had placed second in my age division, which never happens. So we hung around for the awards.
Since we love the area so much, we had planned on making a day out of it. The weather was beautiful and after a long week of not so nice days, being outside felt amazing. We headed to one of my favorite Asbury spots, Porta and sat outside for lunch, and it was a perfect end to a great day.
Overall, I thought the race was great. You can’t beat the location and they raised a lot of money for the Special Olympics of NJ. There were 3 other races going on simultaneously with the half marathon: a 5K which started on the boardwalk (parallel to the half start) and then both a full marathon and marathon relay that started in Seaside Heights. All races finished across the same line, and there were about 4000 runners total who participated. Prior to the race, there were free training plans offered to the participants who were new to races or certain distances which were great too. They even offered certain dates for training runs for the runners.
Post-run picture with Beth
Cutest cheering squad around
There are a lot of times when friends reach out to me and ask if I would recommend races that they are thinking about running. If I was asked about my experience at this race, I would have to say that the things I found disappointing were the lack of bathrooms and small water stops. It seemed as though they did not have enough volunteers for the size of the race. I always seemed to be in a spot where I was almost running alone so I did not have any issues getting water or gatorade but thought that some of the bigger packs of runners I saw as we crossed paths may have. There was one water station that was between the course where we crossed, and they were only able to give water to those running south and I could have used some heading north, around mile 11. The volunteers that were on the course however were great and really encouraging! I think considering there were not any port-a-potties on the course there should have been more available before the start. But overall, I would most likely run this race again, just prepare for my personal spectators to have water for me like I saw a few runners had done.
Today marks 4 years since one of the most surreal days of my life. It was a day when I learned a lot about not only myself but my husband and daughter.
It started out like any other workday. We got up, I got Ava (who was about 18 months old then) ready for Jeff to take her to his mom’s where she would go while we were at work. I then went through my regular routine of rushing around to get myself ready, thinking I have nothing to wear, packing my lunch and rushing out the door.
I don’t remember exactly why that morning was crazier than usual, but as I went to leave I could not find my car key. I searched everywhere, and made quite a mess in the process I’m sure. Finally I gave up and called Jeff to let him know he would need to come get me. We called work and let them know we would be a little late since it was about a 15 minute drive for him to come back. Since I had to wait, I started the dishwasher did a few other odds and ends, and then stood by the door watching for him to pull up.
I had gotten Jeff a kitten for his birthday 2 years before, whom we named Dodger. He was a good cat, but became very needy after Ava came around. While I was waiting for Jeff he was scratching at my leg, meowing and I was kind of blowing him off. He even tried to leave with me when he got back to pick me up. I scooted him back in and rushed to the car. We got to school and went about our day.
After my first classes, I saw I had a missed call from a number I did not know on my cell phone. No voicemail, but service wasn’t great at school so figured it would come up eventually.On my prep period I went to use a computer in the library when one of my friends I was running a marathon relay with that weekend came in to discuss our plan for the day of the race. While we were chatting, I saw over my shoulder Jeff and the school police officer walking toward us.
Jeff is one of the happiest people I know. Super easy going, and definitely always smiling. But there was a look on his face that I had never seen before and I knew right away something was wrong. I immediately thought something happened to Ava and my head started spinning. They both looked at me and then he said, “We have to go. our house is on fire.” The officer offered to drive us but we took his car home to what would be the beginning of something you can never prepare for.
The car ride was strange, it’s hard to explain what it feels like to be driving to your home, not knowing what to expect, who will be there and having no idea where you go from here. I remember telling Jeff that I didn’t use a curling iron or straightener but I had started the dishwasher but couldn’t think of what would have started a fire. I remember saying that I really hoped no one at school would know and that they wouldn’t waste a jeans day on us. I was also praying that none of our neighbors were affected. I was just in a fog but needed to keep talking.
As we pulled onto our street I could see the fire trucks and lots of people standing around. I felt embarrassed and could feel everyone staring at us as we parked and walked up to the scene. There were no flames, and everyone seemed really calm so I started to think it was just a small fire and everything was fine. An officer came up to us and explained what they thought happened…the dishwasher. It started in the kitchen but was mostly smoldering and had been put out. I remember thinking thank goodness, we can just clean up the mess and get a new dishwasher, completely naive!
Another man came over and said he was from the animal control center and let us know that Dodger did not make it. My heart sank. It was at that moment I realized this was a much bigger situation than I realized. Then they said they would take us in, but to be prepared for heavy smoke.
Jeff and I as we pulled up to our house talking with the officer.
Still in my mind I was picturing just some damage in the kitchen. As soon as we walked through the front door I wanted to lay down. Every inch of our home was black. Nothing was recognizable. I had no idea the extent of damage smoke could do. The windows were all black, you could not see out of them. The windows in the back of the house were smashed and pretty much the entire contents of our kitchen were thrown around the backyard. I just kept following the firemen but my head was spinning. I do however remember seeing a pair of my running shoes that had been right by the front door and kicked them outside thinking they weren’t too damaged.
The absolute worst part was walking into Ava’s room. Everything was so new and precious to me and it was all destroyed. Because my car was there, the firemen thought there may be someone home, and when they saw the baby’s room they really searched so things were strewn about. It hit me at that moment that our lives were going to change, but how lucky we were that we were not home when this happened. That my baby had no idea what was going on and did not have to live through something so scary…and that things could have been so much worse.
So basically every single thing we owned was destroyed, and the house would need to be gutted. The hard part was, it was all right in front of us. I don’t know if this made it worse, but I think for me it did. If everything had burned, I wouldn’t have necessarily remembered all of the little things like Ava’s pretty Easter dress she had worn the weekend before or her baptism gown that was still hanging in her closet.
The next few hours were a complete blur. After we left the house, we went to get Ava from my sister in laws house. I remember pulling up and seeing her standing in the door way looking at us through the glass, smiling with her cousin. I needed to see that smile as a reminder that what we still had was all we needed. My sister in law handed me two pairs of my nieces shoes for Ava to have, and I just thought this is all this little girl has in the world right now and she has no idea! I just wanted to hug her forever. She was my reason to stay strong and positive and my constant reminder of what was really important. Everything can be replaced.
So we took Ava to my parents so we could go out and buy some things we would need. We pulled into the Target parking lot and decided to each take a cart and split up. I headed to the women’s clothing department and Jeff went toward toothpaste and toiletry items. I walked around, and it’s hard to explain my thinking process. I would think, I can get this shirt to go with my black pants. Then I would remember I didn’t have those pants, or any pants for that matter! I thought about the irony of how that very morning I was tossing through my full closet thinking I had nothing to wear! I remember realizing I needed to get something to run the race in that weekend. That I would need shoes. Underwear. Socks. EVERYTHING.
It was probably a half hour later when Jeff met back up with me. Our carts should have been filled. But we both had maybe 3 things in them. It was too much. Too overwhelming. You just don’t know where to start. Texts and face book messages were starting to come in. Do you need anything? Are you ok? What can I do? And everything in between. I just kept saying we are fine! But I was starting to wonder if we were. How do you replace everything? It literally makes me dizzy even thinking about it now. We grabbed just a few things including diapers and baby stuff and decided to try again the next day.
Over the next few days we were overwhelmed with the generosity of our friends, coworkers, families, and even complete strangers. People sent cards, checks, gift cards, baby toys, books, clothes, etc. to our school. I had frequented a consignment shop in town and the owner reached out to me to let me know she had a toddler bed for Ava and a customer had bought her beautiful bedding for it. It really was incredible. My parents took us in and my sister transformed a room that had become kind of a storage closet into a room for Ava. Anything we needed seemed to be done and I feel like we can never repay all of the great things people did for us at this time. We were also very lucky that my uncle had a flood and fire business and led us through the process of insurance and other paperwork. I never would have known where to begin.
Ava took it all in stride. She never once questioned why we had moved into my mom’s house or why we never went home. She never asked for her old toys or books or any of it. I was really impressed with her to just go with the flow at such a young age. She also never asked for Dodger, which I was surprised by, but kind of relieved in a way not to have to explain it to her. We made a huge effort to keep life as “normal” as possible for her, making sure her schedule didn’t change much. She still went to dancing school and swim lessons and life went on.
So I ended up still running the marathon relay a few days later. Running has always been something I have used to de-stress, cope and even find it helps clear my head. I was looking forward to having a day to get away from all the paperwork and to-do lists and be around people who had no idea what I had been through, and have some normalcy. I had not run in a few days but it felt great. I got lost in my thoughts and instead of thinking of all the things we still had to do I just thought about how blessed we were. When I got done, I realized that those sneakers I thought escaped the smoke had not, my legs were black from the soot coming up as I ran. In a way it made me feel even stronger and more determined to stay positive. Hard to explain, but it did.
Over the past 4 years a lot has happened. About 6 months after the fire we moved into a rental by the beach. We absolutely loved living there and thought maybe this was where we would end up. It only lasted a month before Hurricane Sandy hit and that house was also damaged. So back to my parents we went, and decided just to stay there for the remainder of the rebuild. We also came to the conclusion that this was a sign that Ava was meant to be an only child. Too much was going on to even think about having another baby, and we were getting to an age where we wouldn’t be able to have any more kids. Glad Nolan had other ideas about that, what a blessing he is!
Fast forward Christmas 2013…I was about 8 months pregnant and our home was just about ready for us to move back. We took Ava to the house on Christmas morning and surprised her with a brand new big girl room. It was strange to go back with her, she had no memory of what it was like before when her room was still a nursery (we had just transformed her crib into a toddler bed). We moved back in January 2014…about a week before Nolan was born, 3 weeks early. The day he was born we were still buying diapers and necessities and assembling baby furniture. It was a great way to start our lives in our “new” home.
Last month, while away in North Carolina for a baseball trip, the kids and I went to a kid fest that was next door to our hotel. The Greenville Fire Department was there and had some fun activities for the kids, like letting them “drive” the fire truck. Inside, they had a booth and Ava participated in some activities. One thing she got to do was use a phone to make a mock 911 call to the fire department. The girl pretended to be a dispatcher and took her through the questions they would ask if there was a fire emergency. It was strange for me to stand there and watch my now 5 year old try and answer, and realize ironically we had never really discussed what to do if there was an emergency at home like a fire. Here are some of the questions she asked her…
How do you call 911?
What is your address?
Where is the safe place your family meets outside if there is a fire?
How do you get out of your house if there’s a fire?
You would think having gone through this we would have a plan. The 911 call was a great reminder to go over all of this with our kids. Truth is, I don’t think we even had a fire extinguisher in the house before (guess what we got for Christmas the year we moved back). We now are better about changing the smoke detector batteries. As a wedding gift we had received a fire proof safe from a coworker. Seemed unimportant at the time but all of our documents were protected and I would highly recommend going out and getting one if you don’t.
If you take nothing else from this post, I hope it encourages you to talk to your kids about emergencies. I was almost embarrassed that my kid could not answer any of the questions the dispatcher asked, especially after what we had been through. You just never know. I also hope you realize that life really is about the moments and not “stuff”. Live in the moment. Writing this post and looking through pictures I was reminded of all the smiles and adventures we had despite what was going on with our home and what we had lost. We had everything we needed. I am beyond grateful for everyone who helped us rebuild and supported us through those years. We truly are blessed.
So back when Jeff and I were first dating, we went out to eat or got take out a lot. I love to cook, but you know how fun it is to be out and about in a new relationship, and our schedules were busy.
I remember one of the first times I cooked for him I made a pesto, which he liked. He isn’t quite as adventurous with food as I am, but he’s willing to try things. A few weeks later we were out and I mentioned to whoever we were with that I had made pesto, and he did not believe that I had done so from scratch and hadn’t bought the sauce pre-made! Little does he know just how easy it is to make! But I’m okay with him thinking that…
We now eat pesto quite often. Usually over pasta or risotto, and I love it over salmon. I would imagine it would be great on chicken as well, but if you know me then you know I do not eat birds!
Anyway, here’s a quick easy recipe, with a few variations…I don’t really measure when I cook so everything is an approximation…use more or less depending on your preference to consistency and taste!
In a small food processor…combine the following:
1-2 cups fresh basil
1/2 cups pine nuts or walnuts (Jeff doesn’t do walnuts!)
3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup parmesean cheese
1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes (I usually cut them into 1/2″ pieces with kitchen shears)
3-5 cloves garlic (or about 1/2 TBSP garlic powder)
Lemon juice to taste (I love it so I squeeze a whole lemon in there!)
Sea salt and black pepper to taste
Chop in food processor until all ingredients are combined into to smooth paste. If too thick, add more oil.
Personally, although I like the taste of sun-dried tomatoes, I like them pureed in. Jeff prefers them to be just small pieces mixed in after everything else is combined. And if you don’t care for them, the pesto is great without them too.
That’s it!
Sometimes I will make it at the beginning of the week and store it in the fridge to add to dishes like pasta, fish, grilled cheese or even eggs. However, usually I use it right away. My personal favorite is with Salmon…just lay the filets on a foil covered baking dish and cover with the pesto, pop in the oven for 20 minutes at 350. So good!
(I want to first state that I am by no means an expert on running, racing, or half marathons. I just love all of the above, and have completed 8 half marathons to date, all of varied difficulty, location, and size. This post is completely based on my personal experience).
I am beyond excited for this weekends half marathon. It’s definitely my favorite distance to “race”, each one is always a new adventure and challenge and I just really love them! Clearly I have made this known, and due to my “half crazy” enthusiasm I have convinced one of my girlfriends that she would love them too! So now race week is finally here, and her nerves are starting to set in. She’s put in the work and miles, and we have been strength training together since September, so her anxiety is totally stemming from the unknown of a race day. Physically she is definitely ready, but she has wrote down some super cute questions for me along the way and I thought it would be fun to make a post with my answers. (just a note-it’s actually her first race ever, not just her first half marathon!)
So here we go!
Are there bathrooms??? Yes! There will most likely be at least 2 stops where port-a-potties will be available. Although, don’t be completely surprised to see someone veer off the course behind a tree or building!
2. Are there water opportunities like races seen on TV??? Yes. Prior to race day, you will receive a map that will tell you where those stops will be. Sometimes it’s emailed, sometimes it will be with your info at bib pickup, sometimes it will be posted at the start.
While of the subject of water stops…make sure you take advantage of them. Even if I am not thirsty at the first few, I have made a point of taking sips at these anyway. Better to make sure to stay hydrated. I also opt for gatorade or sports drinks offered later in the race to keep blood sugar levels in tact. Some runners prefer to use belts or hand-held water bottles and use whatever mix works best for them. That’s entirely up to you. On super hot days, these are probably your best bet.
When it comes to race etiquette, be aware of your fellow runners at race stops. If you are not going to take water, stay off to the opposite side of where they need to get in order to grab a cup. If you are going to grab one, I usually try and go for the middle of the line of volunteers holding them out, then run past the water table and move to the side as I take a sip. This is especially important if you are going to come to a complete stop for a drink!
3. Are strangers going to speak to me??? This one made me giggle! For the most part, everyone will be focused on their own race. If you run in a pace group, people will be more likely to chat. Some will offer some encouragement as you pass each other, but no one will be offended if you are not looking to make a new best friend along the way. For the most part, I wear headphones and get lost in my thoughts as I run. It’s a personal preference, but every once in a while I will connect with someone who can sense you need a little push. Last year, I was running a trail half marathon and a bug flew to the back of my throat. A man a few yards behind me saw it and sped up to make sure I was okay. It was around mile 10, and it was easily 95 degrees out at that point. I was ready to give up but he talked to me and kept me going until about mile 12. He was doing the full marathon and pulled ahead of me at that point. Never feel obligated to stay with someone during a race. They will understand if you pass them or slow down. Runners are a very supportive community and sometimes that can be a huge lifesaver on a day where you might be struggling. And one day, you’ll pay that forward.
4. I’ve had that “I can’t do 10” feeling, but did it anyway. Do you ever feel that during a race??? Of course! Everyone does. To be completely honest there have been times I have been in the first 3 miles and asking myself why the heck am I doing this??? But having those training runs where you feel like you can’t is where you will pull your determination from. It’s all part of the process. Trust in your training and realize that the tough, bad days are the ones that will lead you to that finish line!
5. How nervous will I be??? As a coach I tell my athletes, if you’re not nervous you’re not prepared. Knowing how much time and work you have put in, my answer is very! And that’s ok. If means you care, it means you have the desire to do it and it means you are excited! As much as I try and tell myself I only do this for fun and for myself, I am nervous every single time. In fact, writing this right now and thinking about Saturday is making me nervous! It’s all part of the process. Embrace it.
6. Will I get lost??? No, race volunteers are amazing people who will make sure you stay on track. Just follow the pack!
7. What if it’s raining and cold??? You run in the rain and cold! Every race is an adventure for many different reasons. They all become a great story to tell. I have ran in all kinds of weather, and as long as you prepare for this (usually I have 3 outfits planned just in case of a change in the weather) you will be fine!
8. What if I’m the last one to cross??? Here’s the thing. Someone has to be last,and although it most likely won’t be you, you are still crossing! Do you know how many people are not crossing the finish line of a half marathon at that moment? How many people think you are crazy for doing it? And most importantly, how many people are completely impressed and proud of you for getting to the point where you are crossing that line. The only person you should be running for is you. So where you cross compared to anyone else should be the least of your concern, just be so proud you did it.
9. What if I can’t make it to the end??? You will! No negative energy. I will make sure you get there, I promise.
Of course, if you are having a serious issue…pain, injury, dehydration, then you should never keep going. You need to listen to your body and know that there will be hundreds of other races and opportunities for you to get your 13.1. It happens to everyone and it’s nothing to be ashamed of. Be smart and know your limitations.
Some other advice I have given her this week: Make sure you are eating well, enjoying lots of carbs, and hydrating the week of the run. Know when and where to pick up your bib, the parking situation, and any other odds and ends like bib placement, if there’s a chip that needs to be on your shoe, and particular race rules that slightly vary for each race. Familiarize yourself with the course (unless you like to go in blind like me) and watch the weather. Wind can be a huge factor so pay attention to which direction it’s blowing vs. where you will be running.
There will be trial and error at each race. It took me a while to get over the fact that many people will take off at the start, and I have learned to ignore it. I used to let myself get caught up and then completely freak myself out with my first mile split. Now I hang back and stay at the pace that works for me. And any one will tell you that the most important thing in any race is….HAVE FUN!
Since spring is here I was pretty sure I would not need to wear cold weather gear any longer, but mother nature has been a little moody lately so I’ve had quite a few runs where I’m still layering up. So the timing was great when I was asked by Ama-Sports to test out their athletic head band a few weeks ago. Anyone who knows me knows how much I love to accessorize, even on my runs so I was happy to try it out!
There were two designs to choose from and I opted for the flowers, although the paw prints are cute too. The embroidery adds just enough detail and I love the bright green thread color in contrast on the solid black band.
The past few weeks we have had some super windy days, especially by the water. The material is a soft, moisture-wicking fleece that really keeps out the wind but allows air to flow and kept me from over heating. The headband is also snug enough that it kept my hair completely out of my face…and I have a lot of hair so that is usually a huge issue for me! The band itself is a good width, not too overpowering on my forehead but widens around the ears and back of the neck.
The headband has a nice soft seam along the edge that keeps the headband in place but doesn’t itch or irritate my skin. The same seam also lines the ponytail hole in the back of the headband. I have used my fair share of headbands and wraps when I run, and this was the first time I had tried one with a hole for the ponytail. Having super thick heavy hair I wasn’t sure it would work for me but I really liked it. And I was pleasantly surprised to see that even the weight of my ponytail does not cause the headband to fall.
Thinking back, I have not had to adjust the headband at all…and have worn it with no issues using earbuds and wearing sunglasses at the same time.
The headband is also fine to machine wash. I let mine air dry…it fits perfectly and not sure if it would cause the fleece to shrink.
If you’d like to check out this headband for yourself, either for running or really just as a cute head wrap to keep those ears warm, you can find their amazon shop here.
Sunny Stride Up 