Happy Holidays.

All winners of the Triathlete/Runner Stocking have been notified. The response to the giveaway was incredible! Thank you to everyone who entered. I really wish I could have picked more than 13 winners. And one last shout out to the amazing sponsors that provided all the prizes. I could not have done it without them.

As we head into Christmas and the New Year I will be signing off from this blog to reflect and spend some time with my dearest loved ones.

Here's to a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from our family to yours. See you in 2015.

The Triathlete/Runner Stocking Giveaway

It's that time of year again! If you recall last year I held this big GIVEAWAY. Well to keep with tradition I am once again hosting a large giveaway from all my sponsors and companies that I worked with personally this year. 2014 was a great year and I am overwhelmed by the support from various sponsors, friends and blog readers. As a thank you I like to hold my annual end of the year giveaway called the Triathlete Stocking.

It started out the first year as just triathlete stocking stuffer ideas but it has since grown. It now includes large items that are not just for triathletes but for runners as well. So if you are either a runner or a triathlete you are going to love this gift guide and giveaway. I guarantee there will be something for you. And here is the cool part there will be MULTIPLE WINNERS. There are 13 prizes so that means there will be 13 winners! 

So here is my 2014 Triathlete/Runner gift guide... Disclaimer: All of the items were provided to me by amazing and generous sponsors I contacted and worked with this year. These are all items I LOVE and continue to use as part of my training and during races. I was not compensated for this post. All opinions are my own and I feel you'll love them as much as I do! To enter you must follow all of the prompts on the Rafflecopter page. You have until midnight on December 16  pm EST to enter this contest!

I know it looks like a lot of entries to complete for one giveaway, however I have to make it fair for each and every sponsor that generously included an item to giveaway. You don't have to do all of the prompts but your chances of winning increase with every additional entry. 13 winners will be chosen at random. Those 13 winner's names will be placed into a hat (and to make it fair) my children will randomly pick the names out of the hat and match them up with a number. For example, prize number 1 will go to Joe Black and prize 2 will go to Susan Smith, etc.

So here are the prizes in numerical order along with a description as to why I love the product!

1. Mio Link Heart rate Monitor Here's a great little heart rate monitor that connects with Blue tooth and is ANT+ compatible. I love that it syncs with so many of my apps on my phone. It is also great that IT HAS NO CHEST STRAP! Hooray, it's worn on the wrist. It's extremely comfortable and stylish too. Here is your chance to win the electric green one.
2. Headsweats Visor Have you ever seen me run a race without a visor? Nope. It's obvious I love visors. They keep the sun off my face and my head cool.  The Supervisor visor is one of my favorite styles by Headsweats. They have offered one in a cool black and white color to giveaway. If you don't win this visor you can always use my code TRIMOM25 to get 25% off your order. 
3. Nuun trucker hat, water bottle and 4 tubes I couldn't host a "favorites" giveaway without including Nuun! Nuun is my favorite hydration choice and they have been a wonderful sponsor this year. One of my favorite memories from 2014 was running with the Nuun team during Hood to Coast. I think my face still hurts from laughing so much that week! Here is your chance to win the awesome Nuun Energy trucker hat that everyone always says "oh my gosh I want that hat!"  It's true I watched the CFO give away many hats that week to adoring Nuun fans! Now you can have the hat along with a Nuun Energy water bottle and 4 tubes of hydration.
4. FuelBelt Revenge R20 belt I have an older style FuelBelt but this one seems much more comfortable. I still use my FuelBelt on almost every run over 5 miles. It's extremely comfortable and it's held up over the years so nicely. The R20 has tow bottles for hydration and includes a removable storage pocket. The winner will get this model in Artic Blue.
5. Sweat Pink Performance Run Tee Here's a super soft comfortable run t-shirt with the Sweat Pink logo on it. Sweat Pink a community for women to come together via social media and to spread their love and passion of health and fitness. They recently came up with this new run tech tee and while I don't yet have one, I jealous to whoever wins this shirt. The tech shirt is made by Tribe Sport and features the Sweat Pink logo and reflective trim.
6. Newton Running Shoes It's no secret that after my knee injury I was encouraged to change my running stride and my running shoes. After doing a little research I discovered Newton Fates and thought I would give them a try. To date I am still running in Newton's and love them! I even added the trail shoes to my collection. Have you wanted to try Newton but were afraid to invest? Well now you can try them out for free if you are winner #6! The winner will get to pick ANY SHOE off the Newton website. I hope you enjoy your Newton's as much as I enjoy mine. It's strange but they actually make me look forward to running now. Who am I?
7. Apera Blue Sling Tote During Hood to Coast I was allowed to take one backpack in the van with me. I had a chance to test out a pack from the Apera brand. I was pleasantly surprised how study it was. All their products contain an antimicrobial protection, along with ventilated compartments, waterproof base and pockets galore! These bags hold a lot. They are perfect for triathletes or runners as they have separate shoe compartments and even a padded jewelry pocket. The winner will receive this tote in blue.
8. Chase This Skirt It's been tradition for quite sometime now that the lady runner's on the Hood To Coast Nuun team wear sparkle skirts. Of course this year the ladies of Team Wild Berry and Lemon Lime had to honor that tradition. I was lucky enough to get in contact with Katie at Chase This Skirt to make us all custom sparkle skirts. The skirts are really cute and come in two-toned colors. You can also design it any color combination you like. The winner will get one skirt of their choice.
9. One Entry To The Rock n Roll Half Marathon Series I have to admit this is one half marathon I haven't yet had a chance to run. But I have it on my list for 2015! Rock music at almost every mile during the race and a fabulous race party afterward...what more could you ask for in a race? The winner of this prize will get to pick ANY Rock'n'Roll race in the United States for 2015. 
10. A Pair of XX2i Sunglasses Just recently I was sent a pair of these sunglasses to review and to giveaway. I wasn't sure about the brand as I had never heard if them before but after doing a little research and wearing these on several long rides and runs, I absolutely love these! They compare to another high end running brand that I have. They even have inter-changeable lenses for various lighting conditions. The winner will receive a pair of : USA 1 PRO RACING BLACK ONYX RED FLASH sunglasses with 2 spare lenses. The winner will also get a couple black short sleeve t-shirts with the XX2i logo on them.
11. Coeur Sports Shirt This year I had the honor to represent a new company called Coeur Sports. I love being a part of something brand new. They company is just getting their feet off the ground but so far 2014 was remarkable for them. They may be little now but watch out tri world they are moving up fast! This company is run by two amazing women who have put their heart and soul behind every design they have created. What I loved the most was being able to actually fit into the triathlon kits and wear them for long periods of time. So many tri kits out there are designed for ladies with no curves. Well this mama has curves and she needs a little more than a few inches of stretchy material to cover all the right places. The winner will get one t-shirt from Coeur Sports.
12. RoadID $35 Store Credit If you are a runner or cyclist I hope you have a RoadID. This little band could possibly save your life one day. The RoadID is a band you can wear that has phone numbers of important people. This way if you are ever involved in an accident your loved ones can be immediately reached. Here is your chance to shop the store if you win this prize. If you already have a RoadID you can check out some of their other safety items they have listed as well. Shop, be safe.
13. RoadNoise Vest Here's a really cool gadget that I didn't know existed but after I tested it on a run, I was hooked. One morning before I got the vest my husband decided to join me on a trail run. He laughed when he saw me stick my phone in my pocket with the music playing. He wondered where my headphones were. I explained to him that I don't feel comfortable running in the wilderness with headphones on. A couple times I have had horseback riders come up behind me and I don't hear them until they are just about passing and it scares me. I also worry that I might not be able to hear animals nearby if I have my earbuds jammed in my ears. This vest has built in speakers! It is also a reflective safety vest. All you do is plug your phone in to the front and the little speakers in the vest sit near the tops of your shoulders (closer to your ears). The music is clear and can play loud if you want it to. The winner will get a vest in their color and size.
    

Well there you have it, the Triathlete/Runner Stocking for 2014. Yes I know these were really not stocking stuffers but I had a theme going from previous years so I had to stick with it. Runners/Triathletes I hope you enjoy these items as much as I did.

Good luck and Happy Holidays to all.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Contest ends 12/16/14 at midnight eastern time.

ALL ENTRIES will be verified.

Must be 18 or older.

US Residents only.

All winners will be chosen at random.

Winners will be notified via the email they provide me. I will make one (maybe two attempts) to contact you, if no response within 48 hours I will move on to the alternate winner.

Some items will be shipped from me and some directly from vendor.

No changes, trades, or substitutions on any of the prizes.

Disclosure: A benefit to keeping a blog about training for triathlons is a chance to receive various products throughout my training season to use and review for my readers. These products are often provided for free or at a significant discount to me. I don't receive additional compensation and I'm not under obligation to provide a positive review of the product. My opinions on the product are entirely my own. Some of the products I review may work for me, but they may not work for you. 

Part of the Holiday Health and Fitness Giveaway Hop hosted by Runaway Bridal Planner and Suzlyfe. Please check out all the other great giveaways going on in December.

Ironman Arizona & my story.

Many of you already know my triathlon story but it began at Ironman Arizona on Sunday November 21, 2010. It was the day that I stood on the sidelines watching my brother complete his first Ironman. I didn't even really know what an Ironman was, in my mind it was "just a LONG ASS race." (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, followed by a 26.2 mile run) I volunteered that day at a water station called "bike aid." It was at that station that I got a real sense of what triathlon was all about. You see most people volunteer at Ironman Arizona to get priority registration for the following year and they are all die-hard triathletes. Many of the volunteers didn't really understand why I was there and but I told them it was to support my brother who was racing. They also couldn't believe that I really knew nothing about triathlon. After a quick lesson on how to hand off water bottles to cyclists traveling at their "slowing down" speed of 10-12 miles per hour, I was off. It didn't take long to feel the energy of Ironman!

It drizzled that day. We made rain ponchos out of water bottle packaging. I know I look ridiculous.

 After my volunteer shift was over I met up with the rest of the family at the finishline. This my friends is where the magic happens! From the excitement of Mike Reilly's voice, to the music, to the screams and thundering cheers, one can't help but become inspired. It was there that I saw the athletes coming in one by one. They all looked beat down those last 100 yards but as soon as the archway came into view those tired bodies picked up speed, exhausted faces turned to smiles, and as they crossed the finish those smiles turned to tears of joy. It was at that moment I became envious. Something inside of me longed to feel what they were feeling at that moment. Something inside of me said; "do a triathlon." I laughed at the idea as I didn't even know how to swim freestyle.

But I knew I had to change something about my life. I had two young boys and I wasn't feeling like myself. I was still battling anxiety and post partum depression. On a daily basis I had severe doubts about motherhood. I may have looked perfect and put together on the outside, but on the inside I was mentally breaking down.

The day after Ironman Arizona I made a commitment to search for a local sprint triathlon and to sign up for it. I kept with my promise and started months of training. During the training something wonderful was happening, I was feeling normal. I was sleeping better at night and much more relaxed as a mom. The day I crossed my first finishline I felt a rush of emotions, perhaps like the emotions the Ironman athletes had felt. It was at that moment triathlon had sucked me in.

Look at all those spectators!

So exactly 5 years from the day I stood on the sidelines, I will race Ironman Arizona for the first time. In the back of my mind I have considered doing a full Ironman. However my negative thoughts and doubts about myself would always make me shy away. This year when I saw that I could register and race for charity, it was almost like a calling. I have decided to stop all the negative thoughts because I'm racing for charity and if anything can keep me motivated it's the thought of helping others. My goal is to raise $4000 for the Ironman Foundation. 

Ironman Foundation is a non-profit charity that gives back to the community where the Ironman events are held. So for example you donate to my fund and those funds then get dispersed locally. That money is going right back into the communities surrounding Tempe, Phoenix and outlying areas. Here is a recent article about the money that was raised for this year's Ironman Arizona.

On November 15, 2015 I'll be toeing the line with 3000 other friends. Some have said just getting there is the toughest part. It will be a long journey over the next 12 months but I intend to keep my head up, my mind clear, and my heart set on raising as much money as I can for this charity.

If you feel inclined to give to my charity, you may do so here: Crowdrise Ironman Foundation Fund 

Thank you.

And lastly I'll leave you with this inspiring video:

White Chicken Quinoa Chili

Here's a "make again" recipe that I came up with this past week. It was extremely easy to make too. The soup makes a lot so you can easily freeze half for a quick easy meal for later. 

Click recipe card to enlarge.

These are the basic ingredients:

If you really wanted to save time you could use precooked chicken from the grocery store. But the fresh organic chicken tasted really good in the chili.

Top with cheese, Greek yogurt and a few sprigs of fresh cilantro. I served the soup with warm corn tortillas on the side.

Do you love soup as much as I do? What are some of your favorites?

Part of the Foodie Friday link-up via Fit Foodie Mama. Check her page out for some other fun recipes.

Would you rather?

Here is a running version of the old Would You Rather game you used to play! Go ahead copy the questions and post them on your blog.

1. Would you rather run a 5k or a marathon? I would rather run a 5K. I don't think I ever want to run a full marathon. It seems way too long and I don't think my body would tolerate the distance.

2. Would you rather run in the heat of summer or the icy winter? Icy winter! I can't stand the heat as you read during my Silverman race recap. I would much rather bundle up and keep warm then run the risk of severe dehydration from the heat.

3. Would you rather have new running shoes or a new running outfit? Running shoes! I love running shoes and now that I have discovered ones that I love, I would much rather receive those. My run outfits are not that exciting anyways but give me a pair of shoes and I'm a happy girl.

4. Would you rather run alone or in a group? I would rather run alone. I like running to my time for myself. It's a time when I can gather my thoughts and release my stress. I also like to zone out to my music. If I ran with a group I would feel bad if they had to stop and wait for me. I don't want that kind of pressure so I always run alone.

5. Would you rather run next to someone in a race who tries to talk to you constantly or someone who breathes heavy and grunts? I would rather run next to the heavy breather. I don't want to feel obligated to use more of my own energy by having to answer questions.

6. Would you rather run a race because of the convenience (location, price, travel) or the swag? Swag. I'm a sucker for great swag!

7. Would you rather run a race with a group of friends or by yourself? I like to do races with my friends. I don't run with them because we are not the same speed. But I like to travel with them to the race itself. We usually make a girl's weekend out of our races. It's always a blast to meet at the finish line and celebrate after all the hard work is done. 

8. Would you rather run a PR but result in an injury or finish strong and missing a PR? Finish strong and miss the PR. A personal record can always come later. After suffering my knee injury for several months this season I wouldn't risk being injured again. Nothing is worse then being sidelined for months and wanting to run but you can't.

9. Would you rather eat a big meal the night before or a big meal after a race? I'll take the big meal after the race. My body performs best on a normal amount of food and then I refuel after all the hard work is done.

10. Would you rather be chased by a swarm of bees or a pack of dogs? Dogs. I have a huge fear of flying insects especially bees. I think just the swarm alone would cause me to go into shock and panic. 


Tell me, would you rather....

How to Stay Active During Winter

• Sign up for a winter race. There are plenty of races during the winter months. Do a search in your area and sign up for one to keep you motivated during the holidays. I told myself that my season would be over after my Half Ironman a few weeks ago. Well guess what? I lied ok not lied just couldn't stay away from training. I signed up for a 15K in Phoenix the first week of December. There are times when I would like to skip running but the voice inside my head keeps saying: "that 15K isn't going to run itself!"
• Don't skip going outside, bundle up. Yes it might be cold outside but sometimes that makes it more fun. Last winter I experienced mountain biking in the snow. It wasn't something I intended to do but I had fun and would love to snow bike again. And what a great workout it was! I also make a mental note to myself the running trails in my area that do not have shade. Those naturally were the trails I avoided in June, July and August. But those sun-exposed trails will make for some great winter running.I'll find less snow on those routes and the sunshine will warm me up.
• Buy some winter workout clothes. Now is the time to treat yourself to some cold weather workout attire. Being warm makes all the difference and cold weather running gear sure does help. It doesn't have to be an entire wardrobe, start with a pair of running gloves or a beanie made to wick sweat.
• Go outside and play with your kids. My kids love to shovel the driveway and go sledding on the few snow days we have a year. I find that it's a lot more fun when we all get outside together. Go ahead have a snowball fight or make a silly snowman. Just get outside and play!
• Take it indoors. Ok so if you really can't get outside then take the exercise indoors. Find a local mall and walk around indoors. Our major mall opens early just for people to do this. Does your gym have an indoor track? What about an indoor heated pool? You can still get plenty of exercise by swimming laps in a nice heated pool. And if you don't belong to a gym maybe the winter months is the perfect time to sign-up.

As you can see these are just a few things that will keep you active this winter. One thing that is really important is to get plenty of sleep each night. Seasonal affective disorder or SAD (a type of depression that is related to seasons) is very real and effects many people. Without enough sleep at night and too little exercise this disorder will take it all out of you. So it is important to stay healthy this winter.

What are some tips you have about staying active during the winter?

WIN Sports Detergent Giveaway

Disclosure: This review and giveaway is part of a Sweat Pink campaign. I received this product for free. However I did not receive additional compensation and I'm not under obligation to provide a positive review of the product. My opinions on the product are entirely my own. Some of the products I review may work for me, but they may not work for you.

Have you heard of WIN Detergent? It's a new sports detergent for all your sweaty smelly stinky fitness clothes. With two boys and a husband who loves to run/mountain bike (along with my daily workout gear) you can imagine how much stinky laundry I do!

The past week I have been putting Win to the test with all of our laundry. The clothes come out smelling great. And you only have to use a tiny amount per load. But I really put Win to the test when I accidentally left my son's wet swimsuit rolled up in a towel for a week in my car. Yes a week, gross! The suit and towel were moldy and I figured this would be a true test. I purposely used the GREEN Win which is the dye and fragrance free bottle. I figured this way there wouldn't be any perfumes masking the smell. I washed the towel and swim shorts (below) in warm water and waited patiently. To my surprise when the cycle was done...THEY DID NOT SMELL. I couldn't believe it! I also couldn't believe that this was happening with a dye and fragrance free detergent!

Why am I so happy about this detergent? Because my 4 year old has really bad eczema and laundry detergent perfumes really irritate his skin. I have been keeping track of his skin the past couple weeks as well and he has had ZERO flair-ups which makes me so happy. 

Will I continue to use Win? Yes, I will. Especially now that I know the dye/fragrance free version works. My only complaint is that this product has to be ordered on-line. However we do so much ordering through Amazon that it shouldn't be an issue for our family.

Do you want to try Win for yourself? Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway to win 2 FULL SIZE BOTTLES (one scented and one unscented).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This post is part of a Thank You blog hop via Runaway Bridal Planner and MCM Mama Runs. Below is a list of other bloggers who are giving away a bunch of cool prizes. I encourage you to go check out all the fabulous prizes and enter them all!

Contest runs 11/3/2014 to 11/17/14 at 11:59 P.M. EST

Beginner Trail Running Tips

I recently took up trail running and discovered a love for the dirt. It's an entirely a different feeling than running on the flat paved road. But before you take off and hit the dirt, there are a few things you should know. I still consider myself a beginner but these are the important things I have learned so far...

• Be in tune with your surroundings.  Ditch the headphones and music when you trail run. There are so many things you need to be aware of like animals, other hikers on the trail, equestrian riders trying to get your attention to pass and so forth. You are also outside in the wilderness, why not enjoy the peace? Also you will need to pay attention to where you are. Out in the wild those rocks can all start to look the same. Pay attention to intersections and trail-head signs for the way back. I can't tell you how many times I have taken a wrong turn because I was completely zoned out.

• Wear the right shoes.  A trail shoe can make all the difference depending on the type of terrain you'll be running. You can get away with wearing your regular running shoes on a flat dirt trail. However once the terrain starts to turn into singletrack or steep, rocky, covered with roots; you may want to invest in a sturdier shoe.
  

• Pack it with you.  I always carry a backpack with me when I run. In fact it's my hydration as well. But before I head out, I always make sure I have a couple band-aids, a whistle (mine is built into the pack) my cell phone and extra snacks. And I always carry more water then I anticipate drinking that day.

• Slow down and scan ahead. While you may be able to hold an 8.00 minute mile pace on the street or treadmill, DO NOT expect your pace to be the same. It will be slower, much slower and you will walk at times. I personally don't even bother to look at my pace on my watch while trail running, I prefer just to look at it for the distance. In addition to slowing down you will also want to make sure you are constantly scanning the trail for obstacles. Always look about 5-10 feet in front of you. 

• Be safe. Always tell people where you are going. Stick to trails where you know you'll see other hikers. Stay on the path and never take shortcuts. And if the trailhead has a guest log, sign it. You just never know what will happen and it's better safe then sorry.

Most importantly get outside, have fun and don't forget to enjoy the view! 

Have you tried trail running? What tips can you add?

Silverman 70.3 Race Report

A little over a week ago we pulled into our RV site on the edge of Lake Mead, NV around 7:00 pm. I opened the door and immediately was greeted by a blast of hot air. My heart sank, I knew I was in for a hot race in about 36 hours. Even though I had been obsessively watching the forecast for the past 10 days, still I hoped maybe 93 wouldn't feel hot. Silverman 70.3 was here.

Saturday was spent hanging out on the lake hydrating in the shade while the rest of the family and friends enjoyed  "The Twins". While I had a relaxing day and enjoyed myself, I still couldn't stop thinking about the race and how it was going to go. Deep down I knew I didn't train hard enough and something inside of me told me this race would most likely end in DNF (did not finish). The day before the race was packet pickup and transition setup. This took much longer than I anticipated. T1 was located in Lake Mead while T2 was in Henderson 25 miles away. I arrived at the Expo around Noon on purpose to see what the temperature would be like the very next day. Hot, of course. I was sweating from the walk to the car to the packet pick-up. I went over to the merchandise tent and browsed at a few items. Normally this is my favorite part of the race but once again I doubted my abilities to even finish so all I bought was a $2.00 sticker. I'd display that little sticker somewhere if by chance I crossed the finish.

Do I have everything? 

Kids, hubby, the twins, and our dear friends.

Look how far out those buoys go! And I counted them all one by one in the water. 

Dude where's my bike?

That night I made a little promise to myself that I would just race with the intention of doing the swim and the bike. And by the time I got to the run and the hottest part of the day I would just call it quits if I wasn't feeling right. I went to bed that night with my normal pre-race jitters.

I woke around 5:45 the next morning (the benefit of staying so close to the starting area). I ate my usual oatmeal, peanut butter, banana, Luna Bar, Nuun breakfast combo. Do you think I would dare change it now? Paul and the kids dropped me off at the start and gave me a bunch of sleepy "good lucks and love you's!" They would later return to watch me come out of the swim. At the last minute I decided to grab my sleeveless wetsuit. The announcers told us the water was 80 the day before and that we could wear a wetsuit but we wouldn't be able to place on the podium. The morning of the race they did another water reading and the water temp dropped to 75. This race was now wetsuit legal so I decided to wear mine. I have done almost every race in my wetsuit and I feel comfortable in it so I figured I would wear it. The swim was uneventful for me. It's the part I love the most about triathlons. The swim was in the lake; out, across and back in. There was no current and it's a very calm lake when it's not windy. The swim took me 42 minutes. I was happy as this was faster than my previous half Ironman.

Transition was quick and off on the bike I went. The bike was hilly. It was either up or down. I saw a few crashes and bike parts everywhere on the downs! The course was beautiful and I enjoyed the scenery. It stayed cool for most of the bike but during one of the last aid stations it became hot enough for me to put on my arm coolers. What a difference they made in my comfort especially when I poured cold water in them. I paced myself and really focused on my hydration as I knew I had a long day ahead of me. The turnaround seemed like it was in St. George, Utah. I just kept saying to myself "it just has to be at the top of that NEXT hill." After awhile all the hills seemed the same. We finally exited Lake Mead and had a little bit of a break going down hill around mile 40 but only to be greeted with a monster and final hill at mile 50. I'm pretty sure at mile 50 several F-bombs spewed out of my mouth one happened to be in front of a police officer. My painfully slow bike time was 4:21 minutes.

Pain and suffering.

As I pulled into the run transition I grabbed my water bottle from the day before and took a swig of hot water. My GU was thin and melted. My race belt was blazing hot. My legs hurt when I jumped off the bike, really hurt. I knew I was in trouble. I wasn't even sure if I could walk. I sat down for a minute (only to jump up from the scorching hot asphalt) and gathered my thoughts. It was here that I looked for the exit (as in exit to turn in my timing chip). I was done. I stood up and told myself to just do three miles of the run. So I headed off on those three miles. I saw people walking all over the run course. I felt better knowing that they too were suffering with me. After 3 miles I told myself just do a jog-walk ratio for another three. I stopped at every single aid station to hydrate and dump ice water on my body. I'm thankful for the spectators on the course who were also handing out ice to runners. You don't know how much that helped so many of us. On the course I saw a few of my friends from Nuun. It was only a brief moment that I got to see them and exchange words but it was nice to see smiling faces. I enjoyed their encouraging words and it only made me want to push on a little harder. The run was three loops.

I think I am actually crying in this picture.

Before I knew it I had already done two loops and by this point I couldn't quit. Even if I crawled that last lap, I would finish. At mile ten I saw my family and my friends. They were jumping up and down and screaming for me. It was so inspiring and those last three miles all I could picture were their faces and I couldn't wait to hug them! Before I knew it I was rounding the last corner into the finish chute and I could hear them screaming. I also had two guys coming up on my tail that were trying to pass me those last 100 yards. They were not going to pass me, I took every ounce of energy left in my tank to not allow that to happen. Later when I looked at my stats I was running a 7:30 mile those last hundred yards. I guess I was determined!

Ha-ha take that suckas, you didn't pass this Mom!

My total time for this race was 8:02. It was a very disappointing time for me, but all in all I'm glad to have finished. There was no sticking around for any of the post race activities, it was way too hot for that. All I wanted to do was get back to the air conditioning of the RV, take a freezing cold shower and enjoy an ice cold beer.

Come closer children, I don't smell that bad, do I?

"Can we go eat now?" -said every person in this picture

Thank you to all my friends and family who cheered me on. And even bigger thank you goes out to my husband who has been a huge supporter and encourages me to always follow my dreams. He's the one who talks sense into me when I feel like quitting. He won't allow me to give up. It was his voice I heard in my head that said: "Ok you want to give up but just see if you can go a little farther." All in all he got me to the finish line and for that I am forever grateful.

Silverman, Seattle, Sound.

Silverman 70.3 is just days away. The packing has begun. I'll admit I'm ready to get this race over with. I don't have a good feeling about this one and at this point finishing within the time limits is all I could ask for. My body can't take heat and while the projected temp is no longer near 100 it's still in the 90's. All I can do is listen to my body during this race and not allow anything bad to happen since it is the start of Fall Break for the rest of the family. After the race we are heading north to Zion National Park for a week. I'm thankful the race is early on during the vacation so my friends and family don't have to witness this neurotic mess the entire trip.

Last week Paul and I enjoyed a little down time up in the Seattle area. We rented a boat and motored around the Puget Sound for 5 days. It was incredibly relaxing and romantic. It's always such a blessing to have a chance to reconnect with one another, since we both lead such busy lives. This was a crazy year and I admit at times he often came home from his trips to the "frazzled Amanda."

For 5 days we laughed, played, took in the tourist attractions, sipped wine and ate our way around Seattle and the Sound. We docked in tiny little seaside towns and explored all the ports. While some towns were great, others were not so much. But it didn't matter we had each other and NO SCHEDULE TO FOLLOW. 

P didn't really mind getting sent to the Doghouse

Poulsbo, WA

Poulsbo, WA

Getting our run on.

Doing the Seattle Underground tour.

Did you know there is actually a level below the city streets? At one point they made the city too low with the tides so they just covered everything up with cement and built on top!

Downtown Seattle

This was such a fun trip and a great way to take my mind off my upcoming race. We are already looking forward to going back someday and perhaps taking the kids...or not.