10/23/12

10/23/12, a photo by pyjammy on Flickr.

My little superheroes. They’ve been practicing a lot for Halloween.

My half history

Until a little while ago, I had no idea how many half-marathons I’d completed. Half a dozen? That would be my guess. But I’m happy to say I figured out that I’ve finished eight, and Saturday’s will be my ninth. Similarly, I had no idea what my best and worst times were, so with the help of Google, I was able to figure out my official times for all eight of those races. My hope for getting a personal best on Saturday has waned after reviewing this list, but we’ll see…

2002 Mardi Gras Marathon (Half)	2:55
2003 Mardi Gras Marathon (Half)	2:44
2004 Mardi Gras Marathon (Half)	3:40
2006 Ole Man River Half Marathon	2:51
2007 Mardi Gras Marathon (Half)	3:01
2009 Jazz Half Marathon	3:06
2010 Mardi Gras Marathon (Half)	2:59:40
2012 Mardi Gras Marathon (Half)	2:59
2012 Jazz Half Marathon (Half)	2:33:16
2012 Woman’s Half Marathon (Half)	2:44:59
2013 Mardi Gras Marathon (Half)	2:53

(Edited in 2015)

(I had to include the seconds in 2010’s results, because, by golly, I sure was determined to make it in under 3 hours!)

I remember most of those races. Certainly the first one. My friend Chris and I did it together, just as we did the London Marathon together a few months later.

I wish I could remember the second one so I could figure out how in the world I finished so fast…hmm. The third one was slow because I walked it with some friends.

I can’t figure out how I did the 2006 one so quickly, because I know I got a terrible blister near the end that forced me to stop and get aid from an ambulance on the course. But somehow they didn’t have any band-aids. I’m pretty sure my real time was about five minutes faster than it’s listed. Oh, and this was a very small race. I came in second-to-last.

My friend Kelly and I did the 2007 one together, and my most vivid memory of that one (besides falling down at about mile 11) is singing the songs from Music & Lyrics, which we saw together the night before the race.

2009 Jazz Half…I was just glad to be done!

I took the boys with me to the expo before the 2010 Mardi Gras Half. Oh, and that one was fun because I passed a couple from the Biggest Loser.

The half I did in March was pretty good. The time wasn’t stellar, but I felt good throughout, and I did it with friends.

Now I weigh about 20 pounds less than I did then. Hopefully that does the trick! If I can maintain the 11:30 pace I kept for my run on Saturday (doubtful unless the weather is really perfect) I could certainly set a PR. Fingers crossed!

10/22/12

10/22/12, a photo by pyjammy on Flickr.

Look what Aunt Jenny sent the boys! Halloween cards (exhorting them NOT to share their candy with Mommy…hmmph) and various gross boy things like slime, boogers, etc.

Thanks, Aunt Jenny!

A very full weekend

And a very gorgeous weekend! We did so much that my daily pictures will not suffice, so I must write a longer post to get it all in.

I already mentioned I ran on Saturday morning. But I didn’t say that it was 9.5 miles. Woot! And I did it at an average pace of 11:30! That may sound slow to most of you, but it’s like lightning fast to me. I wonder if I’ll be able to keep that pace at the half marathon next weekend? That would put me on par for my fastest time ever. As long as it’s cool, I might be able to. I think I could have done 3.6 more miles at the rate I was going. Hmm.

It’s weird because I feel prouder of that 9.5 miles than I generally do of the half marathons. I guess because this one was alone, with no one cheering me on. I just went around and around and around that loop. I saw a friend of mine every time I went around (she stayed in the same spot, taking photos of babies) and I encouraged (I like to think) a mom of baby twins. I just kept going. Woo! Felt great.

After my run, the boys and I stopped by Target on the way to a birthday party. Linus earned his ten stickers, so he got to pick out a toy. He settled on Thor, and we also decided he should be Thor instead of Spiderman for Halloween. I’m such a softie. (Plus, the mask on the Spiderman costume covered his nose and mouth, and that just makes me claustrophobic thinking of it.)

At the party:

The boys went to Granny and Grandpa’s after, and I got a much-needed evening out with friends. And while I was at the pub, a very old friend (I haven’t seen her in maybe 6 years?) walked in. Turns out she works across the street from me now, so we’ll be getting together for lunch sometime.

The next day, before I went to get the boys, I stopped at Starbucks to sit outside and read a book for a while. So relaxing.

Then I got the boys, and when we got home, I let them put their costumes on for a little while.

And then we painted pumpkins.

That was fun!

PS Did you “like” this picture over on FB yet? It only takes a second!

10/21/12

10/21/12, a photo by pyjammy on Flickr.

The boys painted the pumpkins they got at the pumpkin patch last weekend. Miles’s is hard to see, since he used mostly orange. But all three pumpkins are pirates, as you can (maybe) see. Argh!

10/20/12

10/20/12, a photo by pyjammy on Flickr.

So I’m doing a half-marathon on the 27th, and this weekend I was able to get out and do a long run to train for it. (Let’s not talk about how many other long runs I’ve been able to do to train for this race…) I drove across the river to run the 1.8 mile loop at Audubon Park. I haven’t done that in years and years and years, but I used to live closer to it when I was training for the London Marathon. I still remember every bit of that loop. It was a gorgeous day, and a great run. Hopefully Saturday’s race is as good!

10/19/12

10/19/12, a photo by pyjammy on Flickr.

Miles, playing possum. The grin gives it away.

10/18/12

10/18/12, a photo by pyjammy on Flickr.

Oliver and I were trying to do self-portraits in the mirror. It’s not easy!

Oh, and we’re trying to win tickets to our local Boo at the Zoo, so if you don’t mind, can you go “like” this picture of the boys? Takes just a few seconds!

10/17/12

10/17/12, a photo by pyjammy on Flickr.

This picture kind of scares me. How are they old enough to use a mouse competently? On the other hand, teaching kids about computers and the internet can be amusing. For instance, when Miles got home from school yesterday, he said, "Mommy, do we have starfall dot com?" And I said, "oh yeah, I’ve heard of starfall."

"DOT COM. Starfall DOT COM, Mommy."

"That’s a website, Miles."

"A website? HEY! Like Spiderman! He builds…webs?…sites??"

10/16/12

10/16/12, a photo by pyjammy on Flickr.

Linus, not playing the Wii for a half a second.

10/15/12

10/15/12, a photo by pyjammy on Flickr.

He’s not sick or anything, he’s just entranced watching his brothers play Super Mario Galaxy 2 on the Wii.

Our first pumpkin patch visit

It’s been nearly five years, but we finally made it to a pumpkin patch! The problem is, there aren’t any fun ones in the metro area, so we had to drive a bit to get to one. Overall, I’d say it was worth it, and I’m glad I waited until they were 4.5 to go.

Some pictures…

They had these giant pillows (?) filled with air for the kids to jump on.

It was freaking hot, by the way.

They also had one of those little merry-go-rounds like I used to play with. I didn’t think these still existed, and now I know why they don’t.

Spin,

spin,

and right as Miles (and then Linus) flew off the side and landed in a pile. It was comical. Since they weren’t hurt.

They got right back on afterwards, but some of the older girls took them under their wings and made sure they couldn’t fall off again.

There were two slides. One very low one, and a high one. Of course they got on the low one first, but after realizing it was so low, you kind of had to crawl down it, they decided to brave the taller one. “Brave” being relative. They inched down slowly on their bellies.