Running Recap 6/23 - 6/29

It's time again for another weekly running recap.  This week was a bit crazy as Mr. J & I prepared to go on vacation and celebrate our anniversary! But here is a quick recap of how my week in running went!

My week started with my usual 4 mile run with Kellie.  When we set out the sky was looking a little dark and we kept hearing thunder. We never saw lightening and when it was time to decide to go for 4 or go back at 3 it was still looking ok outside so we went for 4.  As soon as we hit mile 3 the rain decided to start coming down.  At first it was a nice sprinkle and felt good while we ran. But soon it was a torrential downpour so it was more like a race to get the 4 miles in and get home.  By the time I got back to Kellie's house this is what I looked like! That is NOT sweat! I was dripping wet from head to toe! But we got our 4 miles in and it felt good!!

On Wednesday I did a speed workout and had just enough time to run, shower, and hop in the van to go get an oil change. So I have NO pictures but here is what I ran! I did a nice 2 mile easy warm up. Then I got to work! I did 3 x 1 mile repeats with times of 9:45, 9:42, & 9:22.  I'm really happy with these times.  I'm especially happy that I got negative splits (I got faster each mile) and I was out in full sun and heat so I know I was working hard. I finished up with a nice 1.3 mile cool down.   This run made me very happy!

On Thursday's schedule was a nice easy 3-4 mile run.  I didn't have time to go outside so I just grabbed 3 easy miles on the mill.  Slow easy miles on the mill are hard for me because I just want to get them over with, but I'm trusting my coach and the process.  And running inside is always gets a good sweat going!

 My usual Saturday morning long run had to be moved to Friday morning before Mr. J and I left for Michigan.  So that meant getting up and hitting the road by 6:30a so that I could get my 8 miles in before I had to be home and  load up and get on the road.  This is my before picture.  Even though it was 6:30a I was really happy that the temp was cool and I was going to get to stretch my legs.  Part of the country that I run in is becoming a subdivision. Last Saturday this was just a field and this Friday you can see the big earth movers. I had to stop and take a picture because the sun looked so cool and I just couldn't believe how fast things change.

And there is me after! 8 slow miles and I got home just in time to get some breakfast and hit the road! 

My mileage this week was 21 miles! I'm really happy with that and I'm excited to see what this week holds!  Hope you had a GREAT week!!

Love, Lacey

Running Recap 6/16 - 6/22

Happy Sunday!!  I know I usually write my recap on Saturday but this week has been a bit nutty!  So here we go!!

My first run of the week was a nice easy 5 mile run with Kellie.  Last year we ran together every Monday night and it was really nice.  We don't really talk while we run but it's good to have a change of scenery and be out with another runner.  The sun was warm but her neighborhood has a decent amount of shade and it just felt good to be running together!

Next up was a tempo run on Thursday.  I tried a new route so I wouldn't have to cross a busy road.  I love running on country roads!  Although this road did turn out to be a little more traveled than I thought I was able to run my 3 tempo miles pretty easily!  I also figured out where the peacock lives!  There happens to be a wildlife preserve/farm on this road and heard him calling when I ran by.  I'm glad to know I wasn't hearing things last week! 

My hair is looking a little crazy in this picture because I tried to put it in pigtails.  It JUST barely reaches with the help of some bobby pins!  But it makes for a funny picture!  OH WELL!!

And this is where the week got a little crazy!  Our cat decided to run away from home.  I know that sounds like a lame excuse for not running but when he finally came home it was 2 am on Friday night (Saturday is my usual long run). Well by the time I coaxed him inside, checked him over, and got myself calmed down it was nearly 3 am.  It then took me another 2 hrs to wind down enough to sleep.  So 5 am bed time for a 7 am run was not happening.  Kellie had told me earlier in the week that she was doing a trail race on Sunday called the Waterfall Run.  I originally didn't want to do it but with the whole no long run thing, I figured a 10K trail run would be better than nothing!  So I signed up Saturday afternoon for a Sunday (8:30am) race!

I usually try to eat healthy and especially on race day but today I went all out!  A gf cupcake and a coffee for breakfast! I was REALLY excited about my gf cupcake!  I shoved a ridiculously big bite in my mouth and then started singing the song "I'm so fancy".  I felt real fancy! LOL

As soon as Kellie and I pull into the state park that the race was being held at we see this sign?!  Um, what the world have I gotten myself into?!  There was also a very very small trail near here that lead down to a very swollen rushing river.  I started praying that there would be no water crossings!

The trail ended up being a little muddy but not too bad.  There were 2 water crossings, one was by the waterfall and there was no way to avoid getting your feet wet.  The other was just a small stream that was easy to jump across.  I'm not usually a trail runner but I was really happy I did this race!  I loved the quietness of the woods and running on trails is WAY different than the road.  The best part was towards the end I caught up with a lady that said she was going to take the last bit of the race easy (this part was on the road but had 2 HUGE hills) so I said I would pace with her.  Bless your heart Connie a 10:20 pace is NOT easy!  But she talked to me the whole time and got me through those big hills without much struggle.  I even had enough in the tank to take off and finish strong! I finished my second 5k 3 minutes faster than the first!  

 I got a little muddy and I also got my FIRST blood blister! I may not run a lot of trails but I'm SUPER happy I ran this one!

Yeah this 10k was a little more than that, but I'm ok with that!  I'm happy with my time and mileage!  It was a good running week despite having a minor procedure done Tuesday and the crazy cat fiasco on Friday.

Question of the day!

Did you run this week?  What was your favorite run of the week?

Love, Lacey

Happy 11th Anniversary Mr. J!!

On June 21, 2003 Mr. J & I said I do in a little stone church. The weather was absolutely BEAUTIFUL!! This is my absolute favorite picture from our wedding.  I just love how fluffy my dress looks and how relaxed Mr. J looks.  I just can't believe this was 11 years ago! Who are those kids getting married?!

We had a wonderful honeymoon in Playa del Carmen in Mexico. This was one of our dinners out. We had so much fun minus tropical storm Bill that gave us torrential downpours for the last few days of our trip. 

Before we had kids we loved to take weekend trips together.  One year we got to go down to Indianapolis for the Brickyard 400.  We had the most amazing seats and went with some super great friends! It had to be the hottest day EVER and I have never sweat so much in my life but we made the best of it!

We also went to a LOT of weddings.  You know when you are in that stage of life when ALL your friends are getting married?  We went through that too.  This was a wedding in Minneapolis, MN.  Despite Mr. J's face I think it's safe to say we both had a lot of fun!

In 2008 we took a day trip to Chicago to meet a wonderful friend of mine. At the time we only had the boys and it was wonderful weather and great friends to share it with. There's Mr. J & I on Navy Pier!

Then we had Miss V and our sweet family is complete! This is picture was from a family vacation to Tennessee in 2010.  We were at the Ripley's Aquarium. We actually used this picture for our Christmas cards that year.  We had an awesome time on this trip and I loved spending time with Mr. J & his family. 

I absolutely love this picture.  This was from a friend of ours wedding reception. They had the most amazing reception & location.  We sent the kids to grandma's for the night and danced the night away.  We just both look so happy in this picture and it makes me happy every time I see it!

I love this picture too!  Last summer Mr. J's boss and his wife went with us to a local baseball game.  I'm not a huge baseball fan but it was fun hanging out with them and enjoying the weather!

And last but not least this picture was taken just a few weeks ago during our family pictures. I'm not usually a fan of myself not smiling.  I usually think I look mad or upset or something.  But this has to be one of my favorite pictures.  I told my friend that I feel like I look happy and safe and content and loved and just all the emotions I feel when Mr. J holds me.  I LOVE this picture!  

Happy Anniversary Mr. J!  I can't believe it's been 11 years!  We have certain had our ups and downs but I'm so glad that we stuck together and fought for our marriage.  I can't imagine anyone else I would rather be with.  You are my rock, my love, my encourager, and protector.  I love you more today than I ever have and I can't wait to see what the next 11 years bring!  I love you!

Happy 5th Birthday Miss V!

Five years ago was the scariest morning of my life. I had stayed overnight in the hospital because I was having contractions.  My doctor told me that if I hadn't had the baby by morning she would start pitocin and really get things moving.  Sweet Mr. J slept on the couch at the hospital all night and I don't think either of us slept much.  So about 7 am I sent him home to shower, get the boys (who were staying with my sister), and take them to his parents house.  I told him by the time he got back I would probably have had my pitocin and epidural and I would be a happy camper.  I invited my best friend to come and be there when V was born so she showed up around 8:30 just in time for the fun to begin!  By that time the nurse had started the pitocin and Rochelle and I were talking about what movies we were going to watch and how she was going to rub my feet (She is the BEST!). Well my doctor came in around 9 (or just after) to check and see how things were going. TMI ALERT!!!!!  She checked me and I was 5cm and 100% dialated!  That was news to me since I hadn't really felt any contractions through the night or that morning. So she decided to break my water. That is when things got scary and crazy and are a bit blurry.  She went to break my water and when she did Miss V must have moved her head and the umbilical cord prolapsed, which means that it came out before the baby. This was a VERY bad thing!  When the first words out of your Dr's mouth are "Oh SH**" you know something isn't good!  Within about 10 seconds I had about 5 nurses in my room, one on my bed holding Miss V's head, and I was told I would need to have an emergency c-section.  Let me take a pause break to mention, Mr. J is still not here!  He was dropping the boys off at his parents and taking his sweet time because he didn't think there was a rush! So it's just me and my bff having a delivery emergency. So I tell my bff to call Mr J (I was even calm enough to tell her his phone number!) and they ran me through the hall of the hospital with 1 nurse still on my bed to hold Miss V in place. They wheeled me into the OR asked me a few quick questions and knocked me out! From the time my water broke to the time she was born was somewhere between 10-15 min. Bless Mr. J's heart he panicked when he got the call and drove like a maniac to the hospital. He got there just in time to hear Miss V cry!  She came into the world dramatically and then dramatically changed our lives.  She has been a sweet loving funny smiling mama's girl and I just adore her!  

 Anyone who came to visit us in the hospital said they knew which one was ours in the nursery because of the bow!  She didn't ever go without one!

3 months

6 months Christmas time

It's dark but this is her dedication at church. 

1 year!

2nd birthday!

3 years!

4th birthday was a BIT Hello Kitty Themed! 

And now she got her haircut at 5 and looks so much bigger!  Miss V you are a special blessing to me.  One that I prayed and begged God to give me and you are even more than I dreamed!  I pray that you will always follow God and His will.  That you will continue to be the loving and caring sweet girl that you are right now.  Please know I love you more than you can ever imagine and I always will!!

Happy Birthday Miss V!!!

Running Recap 6/9 - 6/14

I can't believe it's the middle of June already?!  How did that happen?! Here is what my running looked like this week!

First a little sneak peek of our family pictures!  That's me and Mr. J (obviously!). Mr. S is on the chair with Mr. D beside him.  And our sweet princess Miss V is on the trunk!  I love this picture!  I love my husband!  And I love my family!  I'm so blessed by them!

On Monday I did some speed work on the treadmill! No pictures because I didn't think about it until after I had showered and was sitting on the couch. Blogger fail!  Oh well.  I got in 4.5 miles doing a Fartlek style workout. Did you laugh at the word Fartlek? It actually means speed play in Swedish!  There is your trivia for the day! Go and impress your friends!

Tuesday was 3.12 slow & steady miles.  I was blessed that Mr. J came home early and I was able to go outside!  It was the perfect evening for a run! Nothing too excited to report other than I'm PRETTY sure I heard a peacock?! Hmm a peacock in suburbia!? Hey!  I heard what I heard!

Next was my shake out run before my race on Saturday.  So Friday I got dinner ready and then headed out for a nice slow, easy 3.13.  I tried to just relax and get myself ready for the race.  Exciting part of this run?  I had to "pull over" for a police car!  He was FLYING at me with lights blazing and this particular stretch of road didn't have a very big shoulder so I just stopped and took a few big steps back into the grass.  He flew by and was on his way to help someone!

Mr. D wanted to run a little warm up before the race. So I sent him out on the course.

This kid is hard to get a picture with.  This is the best I could do! I was still bundled in my sweatshirt because it was a chilly morning!

A few stretches before the run!

Time to toe the line.  This race offered a 1 mile fun run for the kids.  

They awarded everyone with a finisher ribbon.  They also gave out trophies for the top 3 girls and top 3 boys.  Guess who finished 3rd?!?!  Oh I was so proud that I cried.  He couldn't stop drinking his water for a quick picture but that's him after his race with his trophy!

There I am back home after my race.  My race was a 5k (3.1 miles) but it was English style cross country.  Basically this means you run on grass for most of the race and jump a few hay bales. I had hoped for a PR for this race.  My goal was 31 with 32 being ok.  I ended up finishing with a time of 32:09.  I pushed myself as hard as I could and gave it my all.  I even had a nice kick at the end to pass a girl I had been chasing for awhile.  I originally was disappointed with this time because it wasn't the 31 that I had in my head. BUT two things changed my mind.  One, I gave it my all!  I pushed and pushed and ran my heart out.  I honestly don't think I could have done anything differently to make myself go faster.  And two, I looked at my time from last year, 34:54.  I was almost 3 minutes Faster than last year!  I was almost a minute per mile faster than last year.  My bib (from last year) said 11:14 ave and my time from this year says 10:22 ave.  I will take that! 

All in all I'm proud of the work I've put in and am ready to put in more!  My sights now switch to a race in July called Runners on Parade. This is a very flat & fast course.  If I have any chance of getting a sub 30 min 5k this year, this is the race!  It's time to buckle down and ramp up! 

Love, Lacey

To Give Anything Less . . .

"To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift." - Steve Prefontaine 

I found this quote when I was looking for motivation for my upcoming race. I have been working with a running coach and training hard for a PR (personal record) in a race in July but talking to my coach last week he wants me to really push it and see what I can do in my June race. So I've been doing all I can to get pumped up for it. I have been giving my all in my training, I have been eating and drinking what I should, and I have even been using visualization to help me "see" myself crossing the line strong & fast! I've always loved a good quote so I googled running quotes or something like that and came up with this Steve Prefontaine quote.  

If you don't know who Pre is you can read about him HERE but basically he was an amazing runner and has become a legend in the running community. I bought this book about him but have yet to get a chance to read it. 

ANYWAYS!!  I found this quote and thought that it a great quote.  I even wrote it on my bathroom mirror so that I could remind myself of it daily.

But the more I thought about that quote the more meaning it seemed to take on.  I'm assuming Pre was talking about running.  That if you give anything less than your best you sacrifice the gift of running.  But to me it took on a whole different meaning when I really meditated on it. The first thing I took note of was the word "YOUR". He didn't say be the best or have the best time or always win. He said give YOUR best! As I've said before I'm not the fastest runner.  I don't have any delusions that I will ever win a race. But I always try to give 110% when I run. I give MY best! He also called running a gift. I have said many times that I am blessed to be able to run. And have often said that I was running for those who can't.  But then I started thinking about this quote a different way.  I started to look at it in the context of life.  With the word "gift" being the gift of life. I really started to think about giving my best in life. What does that look like? I started thinking about what is most important to me in life and what are goals. This simple quote has made me really evaluate life and what am I doing for God, my husband, my kids, my family, my friends, even for strangers.  Am I really giving MY best in this gift of life!? 

My race is Saturday morning and Mr. D is also running a 1 mile kids run.  I'm proud of him for getting out there and wanting to run.  I'm thankful that I have instilled in him a love for running and being healthy.  I love that this kid has an apple for an after school snack EVERY DAY!  It's something he just loves! I can't say I love apples that much but I do have a love for fruit and try to have healthy snacks.  Seeing him (and the other two) make healthy snack choices makes me feel like I'm doing something to not sacrifice the gift of being their mama!

Question of the day!

What are you doing to make sure you aren't sacrificing your gift?

Love, Lacey