Long Overdue Race Recap

Yea, yea I know it's a month to late but I have to recap.

My dear friend Cait decided to give up countless hours away from baby "L" to train for the 10K to run it with me. I'm a lucky girl :)  We live a few hours away from each other so running together on a weekly basis is not possible. So I depended on our nightly texts telling each other if we loved the easy workout, it sucked, and I hope I'm not driving you crazy with all my rants :) I can honestly say that depending on her to listen to me complain and make me accountable was the best motivation ever.

The fun began Saturday night with the arrival of the "H" family.

The little "H" family made their way to Erie and we crashed their hotel to take them out to dinner. Serafini's Restaurant....Yummy Italian food, wine, good company, and steal the baby away from the parents made the night fly by.

Bright and early Sunday morning Toby and I made are way down to the hotel to pick up "H" family.

Super excited and nervous that Cait was going to lap me numerous times. It was my first time running with anyone too. Eek! Can you smell the anticipation? I love shots were you are pretending to not be those people but you want evidence. This pic captures that moment truly.

Of course my favorite past time is to always starting out super fast and burn out quickly. The first mile was a 9 min. and 20 secs. not a bad time however we trained for 10 min miles... no bueno.

 Cait suggested running with no music so I agreed. Truthfully I thought it was going to be a disaster. I've never went a mile without my ear buds.Surprisingly, I loved it. I was able to listen to my body and give it the break it needed at times. Good call wingman!!

Miles 1- fastest time of the race and probably the most difficult. Running around the pot holes and clumps of people we started out with 9 mins and 20 secs.

Miles 2 -3 - SURPRISE their were a few inclines that seemed like Mount Everest (I kid but when you run flat surfaces all the time it's a killer). avg. 10 min 20 sec. 

Mile 4- The sweet spot. I was comfortable and our pace was good. Once we hit this point we were averaging about 10 min 20 sec miles. I thought Cait might punch a guy for telling us it didn't look like we were pushing it because we were running effortlessly. Little did he know we were pushing it and trying not to look like we were dying.

Mile 5- Hello Mt. Everest you're back and so are we! Which means we are almost done!

Mile 6 to the finish- The push!!! I think Cait and I talked each other through the race most of the time but this was it. We did not stop once during the race and we weren't about to stop now. There was some crazy talk at the end but we stuck it out. I'm not sure if I would have run straight through without Cait counting on me to finish with her. The last turn (or so we thought) I spotted Toby and the "H" family waiting and cheering us on...as well as directing us in the right direction. It never fails I always get lost especially when she is around. Yup the boys, baby "L," along with other spectators were telling us we were going away from the finish line. Really? We came this far and we aren't finishing I think not.

We cross the finish line at 65 mins. together finishing 7th in our age group. According to MapMyRun app we ran 6.5 miles during that race so we either stuck to our time of 10 min miles or the distance was off on the race. I hope the app wasn't wrong and the route was longer than posted. Whatever the case we finished it strong and pushed each other to the finish line.

Another highlight of the race was baby "L" ran her first race too. So cute!

I'm already looking forward to the next big race we will run together! 

Now it's time to decide what ones we will train for....

It's That Time of Year Again!

Yup! It's back to school season. I hope to get a little bit of school shopping done before I go back to work. I don't normally buy new clothes for the beginning of the year but my work clothes are B.E.A.T. I'm not sure if it was the lack of a dryer and/or it didn't help the water stained my clothes in the last place we moved to in Virginia.. Yea lovely, little stains that can't/won't allow me to Shout them out. My sister and sister-in-law scored me some shopping coupons so that will help :)

This year I am grateful for the opportunity to have a job in a great school district with tons of support from the top down. Like the students, I have first day jitters. New school, new district, new coworkers, new students, new expectations, and back in a state education system that I have been wanting to get back into since I left! I will be teaching 8th grade Language Arts and have three periods of inclusion classes (most are language arts and one is science). I enjoy middle school, no I'm not drinking or taking anything, it's a fun atmosphere to be working in. I'll explain those reasons throughout the school year.

I squeezed in a 3 mile run today but running during moving week did not happen. I cannot focus on anything else while our stuff is in boxes and not put away. It didn't help that work (in service) started for me too. And let's not forget that I did the Mayor's Cup 10K the day we moved. I still picked up boxes and helped :) Once I don't have to blog from my phone I will be telling you all about my first 10K!!!

Tuesday I will be connected to the world again with cable, Internet, and a house phone. Seriously who has one of those anymore? Well we need one. Cell phone service in the new place is hit and miss. So I'll be surprised if this post makes it through :)

Happy Saturday!!! 

Finding the New Norm

A week ago today I was getting ready to blog about what was happening in my world of fitness and training for an upcoming 10K. Life was pretty normal, if I do say so..

Instead, life decided to throw my family a curve ball, a wicked kind, my sister, Tanya passed away. 

My sister was very sick three years ago, she had Guillain-Barre  & Miller-Fisher Syndromes. Two very complicated and unknown syndromes that many doctors don't know much about because they are so rare and the origin is unknown. It affects 1-2 people out of 100,000. Treatment was like trial and error. The ICU doctor was fantastic he always had a backup plan and was completely honest and sympathetic to our needs. We had three months of preparing for the inevitable because she couldn't just get better she had many ups and downs. There were countless nights we had the two hour trip back to the hospital because she took a turn for the worse. This time it was completely unexpected... 

In true Tanya nature, she didn't just have a slight case of this syndrome she had the worse case of it and for three months she was the sickest person in ICU.  She had to be a pain in the ass for both her family and doctors lives. She was always good about that... My family's lives were put on hold I cancelled my trip to Italy, my brother and sister barely worked, our parents barely worked because we needed to be there. My sister and I did our online course work in the family waiting room. Coffee really was our best friend during that summer. Tanya slowly started to get better and when the doctor decided to wake her up out of a coma, we could see the light and the worse was over. 

Tanya hadn't known the heartache we felt during that time. We prayed and wished many things for her recovery. She did lose three months of her life in a coma and I'll never know how that made her feel. It was a rough road to recover and she was taking it at her pace. If anyone knew Tanya, she did EVERYTHING her way.  But she was on the mend and we were okay with that.

A couple weeks ago, she started to get sick again, it was a bad cold. An infection started the syndrome the last time. Maybe Tanya knew what was happening to her body again or she was ready to understand it more. I believe she was finally ready to know, so when she called me two weeks ago to have me research information on those syndromes I should have known it was because she was doubting her treatment. 

Sadly, I hadn't gotten around to it because she said I had time to do it before I came home to see everyone this month. Maybe she knew this was coming and she was trying to comfort us with the information she wanted me to search. She didn't die from the syndromes, she was choking and couldn't help herself with the trachea, which she had obtained during the sickness. 

I don't understand why and I know I never will. We are trying to move forward as she wants us to.  She was the type of person who NEVER judged you by your looks, your friends, and your aspirations. She knew there was good in everyone and that is what she encouraged within them. She was a great friend, a great sister, and a great daughter. We may not have loved how she was exceptionally well rehearsed in telling us how it was with the dirty, hard facts of the situation but we loved her any way. You always knew how to keep us on our toes. 

Now a week later, we are trying to move forward....slowly... Looking for the new norm. We have a new hole in us and I try very much to fill it with memories. It's not always easy but I know you  want the very best for us. As a family we love and miss you very much but we know you are at peace and will be looking over us. 

I will make that trip to Belgium, Netherlands, and Germany for us and take plenty of pictures of the architect and craziness that you read about :) 

Thanks for being a wonderful sister that always encouraged me to be a better person. Thanks for being with us as we said our goodbyes!!  

Thoughtful Tuesday

Today has been a productive day for the Hilbert Household. 

I got up early to run outside. I love running outside. I need to show you next run how pretty it gets here in the early AM. Grocery shopping done in no time too.

We are recovering from yesterday's adventure, with that I mean Gus is recuperating. The rest of us have to move on in life. Toby's back to work and I'm busy wandering aimlessly. 

This week's projected workouts:

Monday- XC- 2.5 hike in the wilderness 

              - Day 5 Plank Challenge - 40 sec

Tuesday- 3 mile run 

              - Day 6 Plank Challenge- REST

             -Completed 3.3 miles in 32 minutes (I got lost in a no outlet area. You should really believe those signs along with your GPS.)

Wednesday- 4 mile run

                  - Day 7 Plank Challenge- 45 sec

                  - Daily Burn Workout- Total Body 35 minutes

Thursday- REST

              - Day 8 Plank Challenge- 45 sec

Friday- XC- bike 10 miles
              - Daily Burn Workout- Arms and chest- 30 mins
              - Day 9 Plank Challenge- 1 min

Saturday- 5 mile run 
                - Day 10 Plank Challenge-1 min

Sunday- XC or REST (depends on how I feel or the leg feels)
             - Day 11 Plank Challenge-1 min

The thoughtful part of my day. It took some serious thinking as well as time. I am participating in 101 things to complete in 1001 days. See my complete list of self-improvements/goals for the next 1001 days. I think this is a great idea to write down goals or ideas that you want to obtain in a reasonable time frame.

Thoughts:

1. Do you set goals?

2. What do you do for cross-training days?

Adventures Hiking with Gus!!

Happy Monday Folks!

Toby has Mondays off from work, so it's like another day to our weekend!! Well, that is until school starts back up for me.

Since there has been zilch, zero, cero  family (Gus, Toby, & myself) time lately. We decided to take it to the mountains.

Gus loves hiking because it's one time he can be off the leash and running freely like a crazed animal.

We were excited and feeling the awesomeness of the workout and fresh air.

Gus is extremely good on trails. He hears his name, he stops, waits for us to catch up. If he goes too far off the trail, he comes back quickly. Because, seriously he knows who feeds him, pampers him, and he is to prissy to be left out in the wilderness alone. 

Along we went on our merry way, trying not to die going up some steep inclines...there were no pictures taken of us choking for air.

Stopped for these views.... 

Evidence that it was a nice workout but we are still smiling... Okay I may not look so wonderful but you should have seen the MOUNTAIN I just climbed. I looked like I was scaling a building :) Pleasant thought...you're welcome!

Toby practicing his breathing techniques.

Until.....
I said, "Honey, maybe we shouldn't be so close to the cliff because Gus doesn't have the best judgment in the world and could go over board."

He says, " Nah, he won't do that."

We continue hiking. Gus is off the trail doing his thing. Gus is called to come back..

No Gus. Gus come! Nothing...

About three minutes later we hear him rustling in the woods. Gus come! Nothing...just more rustling.

Okay it's time to take a look. Toby starts down the 60-75  degree incline.

My thoughts he just broke his leg...

My wifely duties "honey don't hurt yourself." I'm pretty sure I got a head turn on that comment :)

Meantime I can hear Gus trying to get back up the hill. Alright I can't let both of them be down there without me. I need to supervise and I'm more agile than Toby.

What do I see? A wet dog looking terrified. He found the beach.

BUT... He is stuck.  Gus  managed to go down/jumped another incline. This was about a six foot straight down incline and  he could not manage to claw his way back to us. I was scared he would break a leg because he would tumble down about two feet. Images of vet bills were dancing in my head. We went to Gus, thinking this was the best method.

So Toby lowered me down the incline using the dog's leash. Real survivor stuff here. Then Toby followed. We decided to walk the beach and find a not so steep opening back to the trail. Sounds like a plan... Oh wait the sandy, rock hill is soaked from yesterday's rain storm.

Next step...How do we get down to the beach? Without busting it.

Toby, "Babe come this way."

Side note: I wore a causal pair of sneakers because we were suppose to take the easy trail for Gus and hit the gym after the hike.

Me, " No I got it right hereeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee... I crashed and burned slid down the hill. (There was no pictures taken for photographer safety.)

Toby quiet.

Gus, my protector was by my side. Pointing me to these beautiful views.

I cleaned myself off in the lake and we walked the uninhabited beach for like 45 minutes.. Yeah the not so steep inclines didn't appear. We climbed are way up and then down into this....

Way down there. We had to walk the creek until we found this not so steep incline.... It was a butt & leg kinda workout day. The only thing lost during this venture was a pair of sunglasses.

After 10 -15 minutes of aimlessly hiking through brush we found the trail.

YEAH!!! Time to celebrate.

Say what! I heard something.

 It was a snake!

First of all I never see them hiking.  Secondly, I hate them all. I don't care if it was small or nonthreatening.  It's like a car wreck I have to stare at it because that's the sane thing to do. No I did not get close and there was no picture taking.

Here is our shocked look:

A short 30 minute hike turned into a 2 hour venture and about 2.5 miles. Thank you Gus for this unexpected venture and extreme thigh/leg workout.

He showed us how much he loves us in the car :)

Gus: I love my parents... Dad you have something in your ear, let me get it!

As we pulled into the driveway, "Gangs all here!!!" Gus tries to smile :)

Hope you had a great Monday!!!

Wednesday.....

Wake Up Wednesday and Workout...

Workout Today:

This is the only reason I decided to move Gus off my legs and stop cuddling today.

I was suppose to do 4 miles of speed work today BUT my hip hurts a little bit so I gave it an extra rest day...sort of.

Bike: 5.35 miles
Chest and Arms Workout: 32 minutes with the Daily Burn Workout at Snap Fitness

What's on the Agenda:

1. Made some calls.
2. Pinteresting ideas for some dinner ideas for the hubby.
3. Relaxing
4. Sweating out the heat wave. Seriously I thought I left Virginia...I think the humidity followed me.
5. Starting a plank challenge tonight.

I'm Obsessed with:

1. The Stephanie Plum Series...easy read and hilarious at times. There are 16 books in the series.

2. Reminding myself of my running goals...weird! But I am constantly reminded.

Weird Moment of the Day:
1. Trying to take a picture of the Daily Burn video set up while not looking like a fool snapping a picture. To bad I missed the video...

Questions: 

1. What's your weird moment of the day?

Whirlwind of a Month

Okay.... It's been a HOT minute, since I have blogged. 

Frankly, I have been so busy and stressed that the last thing I have wanted to do is project that on anyone!! You're welcome!!

I'm going to end the summer differently and blog regularly and relax.

WHAT HAVE WE BEEN UP TO WHILE WE HAVE MOVED!!!!!

1. ) First and foremost---- B.O.T.H. Toby and I have new jobs. So exciting!!! Feeling BLESSED :)

  - Toby loves his new job. I couldn't be happier for him. TO bad the dog doesn't like the fact that he is working again. Oh well who wants to sleep in...I need to practice working out in the AM again.

  - Yesterday the school board approved me for a Learning Support teaching position at the middle school. I LOVE middle school and look forward to getting back to the age group I love.

Enough said!!

2.) I signed up for a 10K... I'm actually looking forward to it. This will be my first 10K EVER!!! I have already started a training plan. I swear it will keep me to some sort of schedule. I like structure and right now I don't have one. 

AND

One of my dear friends is planning on running with me! I know she will do great! 

3.) 4th of July was great. We spent time with family and cooked out a little just the three of us! Missed some fun times with my family but I did get to speak to some of them and they were all together :)

4.) Spent some QT with Gav... One of the best kids I know.

Seriously thought this was the best game EVER!!! 

5.) New niece Ella. We welcomed baby "Ella" to the family. Toby's brother Eric had a daughter. She is so lovely and will melt your heart. 

6.) We found a home that will allow us to have our son "Gus," an office, and a spare room. I can't wait to move in at the end of AUGUST... But until then we will continue loving and staying with family! Thanks Nancy!!

Plans for the rest of the month!!!

1. Get back to working out consistently. Share my training plan too!

2. Adding Advocare products to my workout to help me get to where I want to be health wise and aid in my training for the half marathon I am planning in September. I can't wait to share with you my results and opinions on the products. Currently I am in week one of the plan and without supplements and it's been exhausting when recovering especially since it is soooo HOT here. 

3. Share my experience and information about Advocare with others! They are that great.

4. READ! It's been such a long time that I am reading for fun and not for class. 

5. Try a few new dinner ideas...made by yours truly. Yes, Toby I know you read this and will be taking a 

picture and sending it to me if I don't follow through :) It's in print that means I have to try :)

6. Thinking about trying a new hairstyle. I like the new omber look but I won't be going blond. As a first time dye-er ( I don't even know if that's a word), I can NOT do that drastic look. Yes I am 28 years old and I have never dyed my hair. 

What do you think?

Questions::

1. What have you been up to this summer?

2. Do you dye your hair? What should I look for in a hair dresser?