Dream Big: Reviving my Marathon Dreams!

  My First Skir t: The Moment I Fell in Love with Skirt Sports! I started officially training for my first marathon in 2004 and the options for running appa r el led me to a routine I knew all to o well and didn't enjoy.  The dance went like this... run, run, run, pull down, pull down ... run , run, run, pull down, pull down.  Yeah, it wasn't cute how my shorts would ride up the inner thighs and get on my ne rves during my training runs .  After no success with running shorts, I moved t o biker shorts but felt awk ward running in shorts made for bikers. I even tried b uying shorts two sizes t wo big to prevent that little dance but the extra bulk made me look really funny.  I felt like I was one of those Macy's Day Parade balloons with the puffy oversized shorts .   Then, I'm sure i t was one of those moments where music started playing and a spotlight shone down on the cutest run ni ng skirt ever! I was walking a round an expo and low and behold the co

So, I lost about 95 pounds a couple of years ago and figured out how to manage my nutrition in a healthy way, how to add protein to my diet (Ideal Shape shakes), how to take out the "wrong carbs" and sugar, etc.  It was easy to stick to my plan, ended up sidelined from running for a while with two injuries, and kept the weight off! Until... I started running again!  Sounds like such a contradiction but yes, some pesky pounds found their way back and discouragement set in.  Rationally...it doesn't make sense to gain weight when I'm running a half marathon almost every week, training for three full marathons (Portland, Seattle, and New York City) and eating about the same EXCEPT the night before and the day of the long run!  Who knew that two days of change in my nutrition plan is all it took to sabotage me? Well, that and STRESS and LACK of SLEEP!  OMG...I just figured it out...changes to two nutrition days, added stress and lack of sleep and boom, no wonder I

I hit a snag in training with a nagging injury, so I was so excited to get back in the race...the Seattle Marathon 10K that is.  As a Seattle Marathon Ambassador and knowing my injury was going to put a wrench in my normal finish time, I decided to truly enjoy the journey of the 6.2 miles and meet as many people as I could along the way.  After all, I'm a social runner and that is when I enjoy it the most anyway.  Let's face it, I'm not a candidate for the Boston Marathon.  Some of the Seattle Marathon Ambassadors volunteering the day before the race The family pitched in to support the event and helped stuff the goodie bags for the runners!  Baylen and Jayden learned a little about assembly line kind of work as they were voluntold to join in.  It's always nice to have support of your family and seeing them take part in something important to you. Race Day is Here!!!!    Why the Seattle Marathon 10K was awesome? You can't have a race with

Skirt Sports Ambassador Weekend How do you sum up the most amazing weekend with Skirt Sisters from all over the country who found a common bond and their love of Skirt Sports?  It's so hard to share the excitement and joy with words, so I'm including a ton of pictures that say much more than I could ever explain.  **Although I do not get paid by Skirt Sports, I do receive discounts and perks for being an Ambassador and spreading skirt love. The opening reception/shopping... We got to see the Skirt Sports store!  How fun!  We were in heaven and I spent a little more than planned, but I was excited to try on new styles...the cascade skirt, lioness skirt and I love them!  I was hesitant to try them because they are shorter than the jaguar and happy girl, but I really loved the way they felt.  And...so, so excited to finally meet the woman who started the skirt revolution...Nicole DeBoom!  She welcomed all of us with open arms and was just as excited to meet us, which was co

Making Peace with Hills At one point I used to avoid running courses with hills.  Living on the East Coast, it was easier to enter a pretty flat rise with a couple of bumps in the road.  On the West Coast, you can expect some hills and some are very tough! Sage Rat Run Hills almost beat me at the Dirty Rat Trail Run during the Sage Rat Run weekend.  My husband and I had run the 12K the day before, which was pretty flat with one significant but short hill that I remember.  Day two during the trail race, it was WAY tougher than I expected.  We chose the 10K and I'm so glad I stuck with the 10K distance.  I knew hills were part of the course, so I had thought about switching to the 15K the day before and so happy I didn't! The 10K starts in a little town square and shortly into the first mile takes a steep climb up and up and up and up...it seemed to never end!  I'm not talking a hill that is just long but also a very steep grade.  I saw people walking backwards t

    Hometown Race - Capital City I'm a big fan of traveling to races and exploring new places, so it is not typically for me to run a town where I live.  For some reason, I was intrigued about the Capital City Half Marathon and thought it was probably too hilly for me.  I was wrong...I loved this course!  Hills...yes, but they didn't really bother me like I expected. The Good... Weather was good for me, cloudy but no rain.  It was about 50 something degrees at the start and finished in the 60's, so weather was on my side! The race shirt is comfortable and unique. The Great... The course was really nice...along the beautiful water and the marinas, past Priest Point Park into some pretty farmland areas and then back into the city at the end.   Volunteers and people cheering were great!  There was more cowbell on this course than I have ever encountered and in the most random places along the course.  At one point, we passed a retirement communit

I think a trick was played on me last weekend.  I ran the Whidbey Island Half Marathon in 2013 and was in awe of the views, loved running to along the water at points along the course and the weather was just about right for a long run.  But, I remember the monster hills at the END of the half marathon.  Yes, I said the END!  At least when hills are in the beginning, you can get them over with and regain your energy for the rest of the race along the way.  So, remembering this, I thought "they have a 10K, I'll just sign up for that and avoid those horrendous hills on the half."  So, I set out my Skirt Sports Outfit, my cute, flirty vixen capri and eclipse tank.  Isn't it cute?  www.skirtsports.com I thought I was so smart skipping those hills this year.  You can start laughing now!  I hid in a little coffee shop near the start to escape the chilly air and overheard someone talking about "the hills" and she had a 10K bib on, so I cut in and inquired ab

And the 2016 Seattle Marathon Ambassadors are...10 Inspiring Runners and ME!!! I was on my way to the Hollywood Half when I noticed an email from the Seattle Marathon and I screamed!  I had applied to be an Ambassador because running makes me happy and I love encouraging others to reach their goals!  I thought this would be a perfect fit to support beginning runners, runners coming back from injury (like me), and those who maybe took a long break from the marathon distance (like me).  I'm coming out of a 10 year retirement and I'm 40!  So, now, I have the honor of representing a great race in Seattle and gain a little motivation for my own training as well.  Completing this race will help me qualify for Marathon Maniacs, which is something that seems outrageous to me at the moment.  My journey to be a maniac will start in Portland in October, take me to New York City in November, and finishing at the Seattle Marathon during Thanksgiving weekend. I hope you will follow m

First 13.1 of 2016....Hollywood Half Marathon This weekend was Hollywood Half Marathon weekend and my confidence was wavering quite a bit due to wondering if my foot and sciatic issue would keep me from finishing.  I tried to psych myself up and think happy thoughts but also remind myself to take it slow.  I had only trained up to 7 miles for this one because my injuries have been so annoying, my motivation was low and adding in rest was necessary but derailed my typical training plan. The night before, Auntie Pam, who lives in the area made a perfect dinner...Kale Salad and Spaghetti with Turkey Meatballs.  I think it was my lucky meal because I had no stomach issues on race day and felt better than I had in a long time the morning of a race.  I ate my typical half whole wheat bagel with peanut butter and drink my Ideal Lean pre-race watermelon ice about an hour before the race.  Thank goodness the hotel was only a few blocks from the start, so it made for a very smooth morn

Celebrating Small Achievements This weekend I had a small 5K on the agenda...no traveling needed and a nice 2 laps around Capitol Lake sounded like a great idea.  It is fairly flat race, just minimal inclines at certain points, but no hills at all.  Prior to the race, I was a little nervous because I've been having some foot pain this week but all seemed to go well, until I hit the patch of muddy grass we had to run through.  This change of surface really took some energy out of me and I started to feel shin splints coming on, which I haven't had in a really long time!  After the jog through the mud, I had to stop and walk for a little while. Energy was kind of low throughout the rest of the run but finished pretty strong with about a 10 min/mile pace the last few tenths of a mile.  I was disappointed with my time because I'm still 5 minutes slower than my normal 5K times.  But, there is more to running than time.  It is a huge mental game and I know that my confidence is