PR!!!! I ran 5 miles.

I ran 5 miles for the first time yesterday!!  (Thank God for Netflix on my phone... An hour is a long time to be on a treadmill!)

I decided to slow my pace down a bit and just take easy for this run. Well, it worked because I felt great the whole time!! I had a moment where I realized that I was running (and had been for several miles) and would have been fully capable of have an easy conversation.  That's new for me. lol  Even  with a sore toe, that I discovered later had bled all the way through my sock. Oops.  I may be in a big trouble if I ever attempt long distance running.  I may have to pick up one of these headbands. 

In other exciting news... I've started a local Chapter of the national running club for Moms called Moms RUN This Town.  Cute name, no? 

I have a facebook group started for the Phoenix Chapter and should have a link from their main page soon.  Now I'm just trying to get the word out and get some members!  I'm also trying to figure out what we're going to do while it's 100+ degrees outside for the next 5 months.  Ugh.

Check out my snazzy new decal.

The countdown is on for my trip home!  10 days until I leave to fly to Maryland and 12 days until I run 5 miles in the Kent Island Rock-n-Run, benefiting Special Olympics of Maryland.  We're running in honor of Alstyn, my BFF Colleen's beautiful daughter who has Down Syndrome.  Our team is going to be called Alstyn's Angels and Colleen has made up tshirts for us.  Hopefully I'll get to see my old room, Kat, and her two little ones.  I'm so excited.  I can't wait to see Queenie (Colleen's nickname) and her adorable little family.  It's been way too long.  As if that weren't enough, I get to stay with my other BFF Carolyn (aka C-Lo) and her son Carter, which will be a total blast.  I need to figure out a way to see my girlfriends more often.  The last time I saw C-Lo & Queenie, McKenna was 11 months old (she's 3 now).  That's just a big fat shame.   I think we need to start an annual "girls trip", or even a family beach trip.  =)

Lots of firsts today!!

First time running in my new sunglasses. It was time to retire the twelve-sizes-too-big-for-my-face safety glasses that Craig let me borrow 2+ years ago.  I picked up a pair at Sports Authority this past weekend.  Love them (and they didn't cost $100 -or anywhere near that- thankyouverymuch).

Just home from my first run with my new sunglasses.

First time running in my new Under Armour running tank. It was sooo nice and cool and really felt like I was just running in my sports bra. Major bonus, consider I'm NOwhere near ever doing that. Not to mention it's a neon coral color that I just love.  I could safely do some highway construction while wearing this baby, but it's also ideal for running along the side of the road and not blending in to the scenery.  ;)

Just love the color!!  Silly as it may be, I aslo love the little "Run" tag along the bottom.

Love the back too.  That little piece is actually a dark grey, but you can't tell in my crappy cell phone pic.

First time using my new Bob Duallie handlebar console. Having my water right in front of me to easily grab while running = pure awesome (especially after previously bending down to reach into this giant pockets on the seat backs).

First time using Nuun in my water. Once I finally figured out what Nuun was, I decided to give it a try. Especially with the weather warming up (and after my rather brutal run a couple weeks ago). It was really tasty and I felt pretty great during my run. I've read some others say that they don't think the flavor is strong enough and they will use less water than recommended (16 oz), but I thought it was prefect, and I used 22 oz of water. I tried the citrus fruit flavor.

And finally, an average pace PR for me today ... While pushing the stroller!! My best average pace yet; 11:14 min/mile.

Jelly Bean Virtual 5k

So... here I am about to head out of my run this morning, for The Jelly Bean Virtual 5k... and again, very happy, after returning home from my (PR!) run.  What a cheese ball.  Anyway, It was really kind of cool to feel like I had something more than just a regular run today.  I wound up having my best run/5k time yet!!  I've been so consumed thinking about Pat's Run, coming up at the end of this month (it's 4.2 miles), that I accidentally clocked my time for 3.2 vs 3.1 miles.  Duh.  Thankfully Garmin has a super snazzy site where I was able to go in and pull my time at 3.1 miles.  ;)  Not that it was any huge difference.

About to head out for The Jelly Bean 5k

Woo Hoo.... PR!!
I ran 5k in 35:21 at an average pace of 11:21.

Even Boo wanted to get in on the action.  Can't wait for her first race, later this month (the .42 kids run at Pat's Run).

After I got home, McKenna requested green pancakes.  Last time I made pancakes she wanted them a fun color, so we added some food coloring.  This time I just added some spinach!!  Sneaky Mommy.  I used Trader Joe's Pumpkin Pancake Mix (which is amazing!) and just blended up some spinach to add in the mix.  You don't even taste it. 

Nutritious (kind of) and delicious.

The finished product... all cut up for Boo

 

He looks a little horrified, no?  He actually was quite happy and gobbled them all up.