next up...back in the hood

so today i ran a 5k with friends from our church. it was super fun and a great pace, its amazing how fast you can run when you have a little adrenaline and good company.  we ran 3.2miles in 28:20 which is fast for me its about a 8:50pace. i felt like a champ running under 9min miles. it also made me realize that i can put together a fun run with friends anytime! i got Einstein bagels to donate our bagels, brought a cooler jug filled with water, and kiana brought cups! it came together perfectly! ..except no pictures to document our stealthness!

also i ran with my friend kassie this week and we ran 6miles! i wasn't planning on running that far but the time flew by and i felt pretty good, so it got me thinking that instead of doing the provo 10k in 2wks, all do the half marathon!!! i'm mean really whats another 7miles after running 6!! so here is a little about the race and course. i'll be running in my old hood (i have run down those streets a million times, the only bummer is that my dad won't be running by my side)...and literally it is the hood of provo. (actually i think they stole the race course from our family!  so back to the hood here we come!  http://www.run13.com/races/provo-city/relay
 and for all you loyal fans...here is the info so come join...but i'm runnin bandit style. (ok i know that i'm really the only reader....seriously not even my own mom reads my blogs:)

Provo City Half Marathon & Relay

Date: May 7, 2011
Time: 8:00 AM
Location: Provo Tabernacle Park – Center St. & University Ave.

Start the running season off right by testing your grit at this year’s Provo City Half Marathon. This course has quickly become a favorite among runners as it showcases the best of Provo, it’s downtown city streets and scenic river trail. Live music, food, entertainment and kids games await you at the finish line, not to mention the awesome random prize giveaways. As the original downtown Provo race, we are ready to prove once again that Provo knows how to have a good time! The Half Marathon course is USATF certified and all participants will be chip timed and receive performance tech shirts. Half Marathon finishers will also receive finisher medals. 

this week

this week was a pretty good week for me!! besides the fact that my little twinners turned 1yrs old this week (you can read all about that here ) i am trying to get ready for a huge bike race i little red ridding hood! its a girl only bike ride and it should be super fun i'm excited to be headed back to utah and enjoy all the good summer triathlons, running races, and friends!! but also a little bummed to be moving from the sunshine state of arizona, i can't believe its been three years already!! i'm really going to miss the friends i made here in az, our running groups, our spin group, and so many of us all in the familiar boat of having our husbands in medical school...and all the blah that goes with med school hubbies.

so with the days counting i tried to make this week count with every workout and it went like this:

mon: spin 50min
tues: run 4miles
wed: spin 50min
thurs: run 3miles
fri: run 3miles
sat: biked 18miles with an ave pace of 18mph. it was a great ride & i feel stronger than i have in a long time. 
sun: off

i got a little bummed because my free 24hour fitness pass expired since i had to tell them i am moving and relocating to utah...they will only let you have a free pass if you are an active employee, i had to do the paperwork to transfer my employee id to utah...i won't become active until i teach again which could be who know how long:( especially since the nearest 24hr fitness gym is 45min drive....but i'm hoping to get hired at a different gym and start teaching and getting free stuff asap. so besides that, this week i really tried to work my butt off and get ready for some summer races.  what races are you doing???


this is a rough draft i what i'll be doing this summer: so excited for races....summer running is one thing not available in arizona!
may 7th: provo half marathon or 10k don't know if i'm ready for 13.1miles
June 4th: little red riding
June 11th: provo tri
July 4th: freedom 10k
July 7th: brown's reunion bear lake triathlon: i'm the race director for our family tri!!!

haven't really planned the rest of july/aug/sept/oct but i'm feeling the need to do another marathon!!! crazy i know!!! i'm hoping to get into st. george marathon anyone wanna sign up on my lotter ticket with me?? you can have up to 5 names entered let me know!!

gotta try these

i know the new fade of cutting out all possible white/simple sugars is tough especially for me as pasta is my go to meal.  but i found these 'garden delight' pasta and they are amazing and actually made from vegetables!!--not just died a different color.  i find that you have to cook them a little longer but they are perfect for any pasta dish: spaghetti, mac n' cheese, fettuccine, and a great addition to caeser salad.  give em a chance and let me know what you think. i think they are a great substitute and don't taste any different than the regular ole' simple noodle.

flexibility and balance

flexibility!!! oh me oh my!! who has time for stretching really....who has time.  well there really isn't anything better than a good nice stretch to all our muscles.  just like cardio, strength training, and proper nutrition stretching should be next on our list.  when we stretch we lengthen our muscles which allows them to become more flexible.  why is flexibility important??? because it allows our muscles to stay agile and to stay strong and firm, which in turn decreases injury. our muscles are like a rubber band they should be nice and elastic, but sometimes if we don't stretch and lengthen them they become stiff and can snap!!(especially if you are working out a lot, trying a new routine or sitting in a chair at the office all day, no matter what you do you gotta stretch)
so when you are debating whether or not you have time to stretch, just remember you really don't have time to be out 4-6wks with a pulled or strained muscle.  i try and do my stretching on the floor and let the babies crawl all over my legs.  its amazing how after stretching even though i didn't sweat one drop i some how feel more fit and healthy.  so on your lunch break, or after your run, or while you are stirring dinner do a stretch or two and enjoy the longevity of your beautiful muscles.  what are your favorite stretches??