Super Hero Half Marathon

This should have been the worst race ever for me!
My morning started at 4:15, when i got up and dressed in my Iron Woman costume (it was lame but I sparkled!)  and then headed to Fort Dix to pick up from friend Maryalicia. She was here from Vancouver, Washington and it was so exciting to finally be able to meet her in person! Of course, I managed to get lost and picked her up at 6 instead of 5:30! We still had just enough time to make it to the photo op for Half Fanatics, though.
Enter the rain.
It rained for the whole drive, but pouring, but not misting either. UGH!
What a fun drive though, chatting and laughing! It made the time fly by! We managed to park in Morristown, and find our Half Fanatic friends. While we were all chatting, a man came up and asked if he could take a pic of us! We looked awesome, lol. We found a dry spot and he took a pic with his camera, and then all of ours. Great guy!!!

 After the Half Fanatic group photo everyone had a little fun with their Super hero poses. Eileen and Maryalicia practiced the Super Man flying pose.

Then we noticed the Incredibles, and had to get a pic with them!

So many great costumes! We also saw Iron Man and another (way better) Iron Woman! The guy won the costume contest at the end!

So awesome! It was about time to line up, so we ditched our ponchos and Maralicia ran ahead to get some starting line shots. She also found a very kind GIANTS fan to take pics of us as we approached. People are so amazing!

LOVE it! We were off into the rain after that! There was much cheering and laughing, and a lot of singing, as we ran. Maryalicia made the race so much fun! We stopped and took pics of costumes, and even some of the Aid Stop volunteers were in costume! We also thanks all of the real heroes: cops, FD, and EMS.

Underdog, he made his own costume. LOVE it!

The rain never stopped, and the hills were kinda sucky.

And yet we had so much fun!! I knew my time was going to be terrible, but I didn't care! A race like this had to be all about the fun, like a Disney race. Only wet and cold.

We saw Mario during the run through the woods, and when asked for a photo, he said he couldn't stop. He had to find Princess Peach ..again.. and she better not be in yet another castle. We laughed about that for about a mile, and then we found her ourselves at a Water Stop.

The whole table had the Mario them, it was hysterical. We also stopped to thank some real heroes!

Maryalicia also took a few Honey Stingers action shots of me, since they are awesome enough to sponsor me!

check out the fog on the camera!

The race was a double loop, so we ran the course twice. It was a nice course, even with the hills, and would have been beautiful without the rain. The rain definitely sucked some of the love out, but we made the best of it and had a great time. We finished in about 2:44, and our friend Lisa actually came up behind us and finished with us in the end! So awesome!

We collected our medals and headed over to the food tents. Only there was not much food. Some apples and bananas, and some various drink choices. No food. No volunteers either. The coconut water people were leaving as well. That made me a little angry: they had tents, they were dry, we were the wet ones! We cheered on some incoming racers, expecially ones we remembered from the course. We
also met up with a first time Half Marathoner and a new Half Fanatic. While we looked at the food offerings (lol) we also had some runners tell is that we motivated them with out good attitudes and fun on the course. I am thinking it was 75% Maryalicia and maybe 25% me, but it was nice to hear!
We headed over to the awards ceremony, and they had a costume contest. Maryalicia and 3 others entered, and there were 4 prizes!

Wonder Woman got 2nd, Iron Man got 1st, Maryalicia was 3rd and Superman was 4th.

Her prize was a gift certificate to a shop in town. Free lunch!

She also scored herself a beer glass for traveling so far! Woot!

We had a very nice lunch at C'Est Cheese in Morristown, and then stopped at Sweet Lucy's Bakery for cupcakes. Yum!
And then our day was over! I dropped Maryalicia back at the base and limped home to recover, lol.
I was super tired last night and went to bed early. Last night my ankle and calf were tight, but so far today, no real pain. Yay!
Next stop? Spring Lake Five Miler!

Have you ever raced in horrible conditions?

Bay Head 5K

Another last minute 5K for me!
I have run this course twice before, and it is great for PRs, nice and flat and fast! My best time going in was 31:04 and I was determined to beat it! I blew off Packet Pickup last night, so I had to leave a little early this morning. Since the race start is only about 1.25 miles away, I rode my bike.

I had to stop on the bridge and take a pic! It was nice and cool, no breeze really, a little humid. I got my tee and bib and stashed what I didn't need in my bike basket. While I waited to start I listened to the bagpipers. I LOVE bagpipers!

Because of Sandy, the course was different this year, almost backwards, using a few different roads. I started out fast, but it didn't feel too fast.  Until I hit the one mile mark. OMG 9:00. I wanted to slow down, but it felt easy so I kept it up. I hoped it wouldn't bite me in the butt later! A few of my friends were there with their kids, and they yelled out to me as I passed them. It definitely fueled my run! As I approached 2 miles, I saw the clock and was amazed again to see my time was around 18:30. Holy crow! Right around mile 2.5 my friend George flew by,. shouting out that he started 7 minutes late. I was trying no to be a hater, but I did call him a show off as he blew by me!
As I approached the finish, the time said 31:30ish, but my Runtastic app said 30:41. It also said the course was almost 3.5 miles. It was actually more like 3.2 and my official time was 30:25! I actually beat last year's time by 40 seconds, and beat my friend Cheryl (for the first time ever) by 13 seconds! woot!

All in all a great race and I look forward to October so I can run it again, and try to get into the 20s!

Tomorrow is the SuperHero Half, so excited about this one!
Flat Mama:

semi lame IronWoman costume

What did you do this weekend?

Packet Pick Up Day!

Awhile back, I signed up for the SuperHero Half Marathon in Morristown NJ. I am so excited for this race for a few reasons:

1. dress up time!!
2. Half Fanatic meet up
3. My friend Maryalicia is here from Washington State and she is running it with me!
4. Race #7 out of 13!
5. dress up time!

Did I mention dressing up? I am going as Iron Woman! I will post a Flat Mama tomorrow, I am sure, but it will be very simple. Red tech shirt, red sparkly skirt, and a gold sparkly head band. Oh, and this symbol:

So simple!  I cannot wait to see all of the other costumes!

I drove up to Morristown today to pick up our bibs. Well, I drove by way of the hubs' office so we could do lunch. I had the most amazing salad at Panera! 

SO yummy!

The drive to Morristown was pretty much cut in half now, and it is a nice straight route! What a beautiful town!

Packet pick up was quick, just a small table at the back of a Running Store. I picked up our bibs and tees, and got a cute Brooks running singlet, so cute! I will take a pic the first time I wear it.

I will share my Flat Mama later, for now it is off to bed so I can be ready in the morning for the 5k! I will leave you with the not so exciting bib:

Are you running this weekend?

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday

This was Tuesday's count!

Influenster prize pack

The teenie got her Learner's Permit and the boy is a creeper. So proud!

Very Inspiring Blogger Award

A couple of weeks ago, Running Happily Ever After nominated me for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award! I was so touched to be nominated by one of my fellow Disney runners! Today, it got even better when Jen from Hello Fitness We Meet Again also nominated me! It is so amazing to receive such nominations from people you look up to!

LOVE it!
So, what are my duties upon receiving the Very Inspiring Blogger Award?

There are some guidelines that I must follow :

1.  Display the award logo on your blog.
2.  Link back to the person who nominated you.
3.  State 7 things about yourself.
4.  Nominate 15 bloggers for this blog and link to their pages.
5.  Notify these bloggers of the nomination and the awards’ requirements.

So one and two are already taken care of, so let's move on to the 7 things about myself!

1. I am a Stay at Home Mom of two teenies, two dogs, and one little angel. 
2. The hubs and I have been married for 18 years, and have known each other for 26!
3. I like to crochet in my spare time, and can sew (by hand) fairly well.
4. I LOVE to read: Stephen King, Nora Roberts, JD Robb, Dean Koontz, and just about anything else
5. I LOVE movies! Dramas, Period Films (especially Jane Austen), horror movies, action movies, you name it, I will watch it. I am easily amused, which helps!
6. I am running Runners World's Hat Trick in the Fall and Dopey in January!
7. I love inspiring my friends to become runners! My motto is "You don't have to finish fast, just finish well!"

teenie #1 trying on a dress for NHS

the pups! Memphis and Nugget

awwwwwww

teenie #2

Now to nominate 15 Inspiring Bloggers! I am going to nominate the bloggers that I am currently suffering  getting fit with right now, through the Revolt Fitness Blogger program! We are all taking part of Nichole's program together and blogging about it! It is tough! These ladies are all doing an amazing job!

1. Color Me Crystal
2. We Are Earthformed
3. Roubinek Reality
4. Oh Just Stop Already
5. Rick*A*Bam*Boo
6. Potato Chip Cats
7. The Ordinary Aunt
8. We Don't Have It All Together, But Together we Have It All
9. Designz by DeDe
10. The Healthy Wife
11. Me and My Handful
12. Debbie Jean's Blog
13. this radiant life
14. sugarplumcupcake
15. oh whimsical me
16. Thrifty Mom's Reviews and More
17. Loving Life
18. Clare's Chaotic Cacophony
19. making the world CUTER
20. Knot So Crafty Creations

Yikes, that is 20, and I am not even done with all of them yet! I will try and link more of them at a later date! 

Have you ever tried a diet/fitness program? What were the results?

Monday Musings

I am having a yucky Monday! I woke up with an upset stomach, and I have the blahs! Ever had a day like that?
I have had some good news this past week, however!
I won a great prize in the Spring Bootie Buster Challenge from Amanda at Run to the Finish! I got a great Sports Bra, that (unfortunately for me) is too small *but* (fortunately for her!) fits the teenie! She was very excited! Thanks Amanda!

I also found this posted to my Facebook wall from my friend Dyna!

I also won a photo contest run by the Trenton Half Marathon, and scored a tech shirt! I am so excited, because I was going to buy this shirt this week!

Awesome, right? They are also sending me a magnet!

I also found out this week that I have been chosen as a Janet TV ambassador!
 Janet TV (formerly 'Sports Channel for Women') is an online TV channel and destination that provides 24 hours-a-day coverage of athletic & active females and their sporting interests - - sporting events, original shows, scores and news - - and is delivered to viewers nationwide via computers, laptops, cell phones, tablets, gaming consoles and connected TVs. 

and I received an email congratulating me on becoming sponsored by Honey Stinger!

This was such a thrill for me! I use *only* Honey Stinger Waffles on any run longer than 5 miles, so it was an extra special honor for me! I am now a member of the Hive, an amazing program to help athletes with their training, by offering discounted gear and products! Thanks Honey Stinger!!


Finally, a little something to help you! I have recently discovered Groovebook, It is a wonderful new way to get your phone's pics printed every month! It is so easy! You download the FREE app, signup, use the promo code PRYTHERCH13 for one free month, and begin uploading your photos! You get 100 a month for $2.99 and they come in a great little book with perforations so you can neatly tear them out! LOVE it, especially for race day photos!

What is your favorite part about Spring? I am really enjoying the flowers, and the sunshine, and the opportunities to be active outdoors!

Revolt Week 2, A Rainy 5K, and the Hubs raced!!

What a crazy week I have had! Today was week 2 of Revolt Fitness. I am now down 3.5 pounds and I am firming up a *lot*. My tummy is flatter, my clothes fit better,  feel better!! I have been mostly following the diet plan, but had to change a few meals. The plan makes it very easy to swap out meals, though!
Monday, I skipped working out, as I was in a little pain from running the Long Branch half!

The hubs and I celebrated our Anniversary on Monday, and we did walk for about an hour on the boardwalk.

Anniversary cupcake

Tuesday's workout was Lower Body, not great when your legs hurt from a Sunday Half!

Wednesday was a day off, but I did get my bib for the Spring Lake Five, woot!

I have never been very good at days off, though, so I did squeeze in a little exercise!

Best plank in awhile!

dog walk!

Thursday was a regular workout day, and I also worked on the Tardis blue sparkly skirts for our upcoming Dr Who Virtual 5K.

Friday was Upper Body and I also went for a run with my friend Cheryl.

When I came back from the run, my Trenton Half Run for Boston tee came!

On our tun, Cheryl convinced me to race with her on Saturday. It was super overcast, but the rain didn't start until the gun went off to start the race.

Overall, it was a great race! I got a free bib because Cheryl's daughter couldn't race. Thanks Cheryl! Afterwards, we headed to my parent's house, so the hubs could race there the next morning.

Sunset near my Mom's house

Mother's Day was the day of the Hubs' race, so we got up kinda early, and headed out to the middle of nowhere for his race.

The next Revolt Uprising starts June 4th. Who is going to join me?