Dangerous Wonder

Mar. 15, 2009

100% Irish For A Day

I loved being 100% Irish for a day! The wind blowing through my hair, as I ran through the enchanted fields of clover looking for the end of the rainbow with that silly leprechaun taunting me.... Yesterday I raced my first 5k (3.1 miles). It was an Irish for a Day 5K and apparently, everyone who participates gets to be 100% Irish for the day! My hubby, who has been training all winter to get ready for an Ironman this coming fall wanted to race it in style. So he pulled on his Irish soccer socks, Official Ireland soccer jersey and his not so Irish (Scottish) but close to Irish kilt. He looked awesome! After race at Blazer's house. As for me, I just went with a green pullover. I was nervous, but excited all at the same time. I had been training for the past 4 weeks and pretty much knew how it was going to feel. I knew I wasn't going to be walking it, because I had ran the distance earlier in the week on the treadmill. I just didn't know what to expect as far as humongous group starts and how that all worked. I soon found out that the first 1/2 mile is dodging people running slower, people walking, people running with strollers or dogs...it was an adventure! My biggest thing to dodge however were all the icy patches on the trail. While the day before had warmed up enough to get most of the snow melted off the sidewalks, the morning of had some very slippery icy patches. I was just thankful it was 34 degrees and not below freezing! I soon realized that as I was approaching mile marker 1 that it hadn't even felt like I had run a mile yet and when I hit mile 2 I could hardly believe how great I was feeling! Running outside is so much better than on a treadmill. Hubby sprinting to the finish in his fast kilt! As I approached the end of the race, my hubby and his running buddy Blazer (who had already finished in 20 minutes) came back to keep me company for the last push. I was so glad to see them, but also was challenged because they did push me in their "slow pace." I'm so glad they did that because I really did need that encouragement to push it up that last hill. I was feeling so good by the last 100 meters that I was able to sprint it. Me, hubby and Blazer after the race and ready for breakfast! I was very happy with my time (33:56) considering that I was so far back in the swarms of people where you're not really running till things get spread out. My goal was to be under 35 minutes and I did that! Next time I know not to get stuck in the back with the dogs and the walkers. It was a wonderful experience and I'm so glad I did it! I can't wait till I do another one!

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Mar. 7, 2009

Training for a 5K

There have been loads of times that I have been determined to stay focused and get back into shape, which only turned into a couple days here and there every few months. My hubby really wanted me to start running again so that I could run with him! He knew the only way I would get serious is if I were signed up for a race. Oh how he knows me! With an impending deadline, I have been quite diligent about working out and getting back into shape! A week from today I will be running my first 5K race ever! Mom and Son ready for a run! With all the running that has been going on here lately, between my training and my hubby's ongoing Ironman training, we decided to sign the kids up for a fun run in May. Yesterday, my son wanted to run with me, so I told him we would try a mile together. He did amazingly well and was very proud of himself! This is a great sport to do together as a family. I can't wait to report back to you the details of my first race next week. Stay tuned!

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Oct. 7, 2008

Twin Cities Marathon 2008

(photo taken the day before with beautiful weather mind you!) Well, my marathon man finished the Twin Cities Marathon in 3 hours and 32 minutes. While this is an incredible time for anyone to finish, he was hoping to finish in 3 hours 10 minutes to qualify for the Boston Marathon. As much as he trained, there was nothing that could prepare him for the pouring down rain in 50 degree weather. Needless to say, towards the end, he was turning blue and thus affected his time greatly. Regardless, I am so proud of him and I am so thankful that he finished and is healthy without injury or hypothermia! My hubby's faithful supporters! The kids and his parents at mile 8 of the marathon. The rain was just starting. My youngest in a Grandma and Grandpa sandwich to keep warm! They are such good sports! DD9 with Grandma and Grandpa's dog. DS7 with Grandma and Grandpa's other dog. One of our signs cheering on all the runners! This is mile 22. My only photo of my hubby in the race! Oh, well! The fans waiting patiently for Daddy. There he is! My hero!! Our family in front of the state capitol! You have to appreciate our bundled selves in mish mash outfits! LOL! Too funny! DH at our favorite Italian restaurant Bucca's! In celebration of our hero! At home on later on working out the kinks in his leg while eating Papa Murphy's pizza! Look at that cheese! We are sure proud of him! He is ready for more action too! Thanks for reading!

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Jun. 23, 2008

Square Foot Gardening

I have wanted to have a garden ever since I got married. It's been 10 years now and I  have my first vegetable garden! Woohoo!  I read the article about Square Foot Gardening in an Oldschoolhouse Magazine last year and have been dreaming of one ever since. My dh wasn't really understanding my enthusiasm but was so kind and built me a beautiful 4x8 box out of cedar so it wouldn't rot and wouldn't put chemicals in my dirt! He even went to the local family owned garden store and bought me organic compost and what not! He's my hero! Our poor van was low riding with all the bags of dirt in the back! LOL! Look at that beautiful box! My super hero once again saving my day and helping me get the box filled with all that good dirt! I measured 12 inches intervals along the edges and my dh hammered in some nails for me. Then I used heavy duty kitchen string to make my squares. It worked really well! Once I got the grid in place I could hardly contain my excitement! So I was off to the store to get some seeds and some plants. When I returned home, I planted all my new treasures in the ground. We have tomatoes, peppers for salsa and peppers for everything else, cucumber, lettuce, spinach, basil, pumpkins and last week I added corn, beets and cilantro. Oh! I also have celery. I can hardly believe all the room I have in my box for such a variety of plants! As we see the progress, my dh is definitely seeing why I was so enthusiastic. I can't believe how exciting and how great it feels to have a vegetable garden. The kids are really excited too! We have our first itty bitty green tomato on the vine and our first itty itty bitty green pepper started! Yippee! It's incredibly easy to keep the weeds out and watering takes no time at all! Being a farm girl in the suburbs...I am so thankful to have my plot of land to produce good food for me and my family! Praise the Lord!!!

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May. 19, 2008

1/2 Marathon

First Race My Superman DH has been training really hard for his goal of running a marathon this year. He ran his first race at the beginning of April, which was a 15 mile run. He averaged 8 minute miles and did very well for his first race! It was a very casual race for him. He even stopped to give the kids hugs and shake my dad's hand where we were cheering for him! Too funny!!! Finished!!! 1/2 Marathon 2 weeks ago he completed his second race which was a 1/2 marathon (13.1 miles) and averaged 7:33 minute miles...which rocks! I am so proud of him and his accomplishments! The kids and I cheered him on at mile 5, mile 8, mile 11 and of course the finish line! Smiling at mile 8! Still smiling at mile 11! 2 of his faithful supporters! DD9 and DS7 Strong finish! "We love you Daddy!!!!" I'm so proud of my hubby! He is superman for sure!!!

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Feb. 25, 2008

Marathon Man

Despite frigid temperatures, my DH has now been outfitted to run in them! I thought he was crazy to train for a marathon...now he is running outside in January and February! Yikes! Here he is in his running gear for ummmm....the cold weather. This particular day he was running outside when the weather was 17 degrees! He has been running one long run each week that keeps getting longer. He is now up to 12 miles for his long run. Next Saturday he's looking at 13 miles! He is brave and oh so healthy!!!! I am so proud of him! As for me...the "training" for the 5k has paused because I can't seem to get myself out the door to the club! I did keep doing my Denise Austin workouts for the entire month of January. Now that I have successfully not done them in February (for various lame excuses and not so lame ones), it's time to get back on the horse! My hubby is such an inspiration and he is being such a wonderful leader for our family in the department of physical fitness and healthy eating.

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Jan. 7, 2008

Running a marathon?