Run Daddy Run

This past weekend Mike ran his first 1/2 Marathon. It was so much fun being able to be a cheerleader instead of a runner this year. We were able to see Mike around mile 6.5 and then we met up with him at the finish line. He did such an amazing job, especially since it ended up being a rather warm morning.

Here is the sweetest little cheerleader ever! I made this onesie using the same tutorial that I used to make her Easter Bunny onesie.



Mike at mile 6.5: 

Post race pictures:

I was so happy that a lot of the family was able to make it to cheer Mike on. This was a special day and I am sure it meant a lot to him to have their support.

Way to go Daddy!!! We are so proud of you!!!

Run Forrest, Run

This past Saturday I ran the Country Music 1/2 Marathon. I have been training for this race with Team Niki G which consists of my boot camp instructor & four fellow boot campers. This was my very first 1/2 marathon. I still can not believe that I was able to run 13.1 miles without stopping, walking, fainting, or dying!

For me, the Marathon weekend really started on Friday night when my Dad & Brother surprised me by showing up in Nashville. Unknown to me, Mike had tried really hard to get family members to come for the weekend to surprise me and show support, but for certain reasons no one was going to be able to make it. I am so thankful my Dad & Brother were able to make the trip!

We all know you can't run a long race without carb loading, so once the guys made it to town we headed to Molinari's Italian Restaurant for dinner. YUMMY!

Saturday morning came early. I was up by 4:00am to prepare for the race and meet the rest of the team. The boys left the house around 6:30am and headed downtown to cheer me on. They picked a place on the course where they could see me twice, once around mile 5 and then a second time when I ran back by around mile 8. After I passed them at mile 8 they got in the car and headed to the finish line and waited for me to make the final turn at mile 13.

The weather was near perfect. It was a little warmer than I would have preferred, but that is where the cups of cold water came in handy. Luckily the storms held off until after all of our group was finished running.

Team Niki G (minus one of our team members) before the race.

MILE 5

MILE 8

MILE 13

Approaching the finish line!

I was VERY pleased with my time. My official chip time was 2 hours 24 minutes, but my actual time was 2 hours 21 minutes. The 3 minute difference is because my running buddy needed to make a pit stop, so I paused my stopwatch and waited for her. I wasn't too off from my goal time of 2 hours 15 minutes.

Post Race Pictures:

Mike had to join in:)

During the race my family saw several people wearing "odd" things while running. There were people wearing tutus, 2 guys running in full business suits, and 2 guys running barefoot...OUCH! The following man wins the award for "The Most Disturbing Outfit". We will just call him "Bunny Boy".

This is what was waiting for me on the kitchen table when I got home from the race. My sweet husband had left me a card and a sticker to put on the back of the 4-Runner to remind me of this accomplishment. Since he didn't know which one I would choose he just bought them all...what a smart man!

Now that the soreness has wore off I am ready to do it again!

New Year Resolutions?

Being that it is almost the end of January (where does time go?) I figure I should blog about our family's New Year Resolutions or shall I say, lack there of:) I personally have never been a big fan of the whole New Year Resolution concept, only for the one reason that I make them and never fulfill them. So come mid-year I look at the piece of paper on which I have written my resolutions and feel like a complete failure. So to save myself from my own judgement, I just don't do it!

However, I do believe in fresh starts and I do believe that January 1st is a great time for re-evaluating and taking stock of all that has happened the prior year. It is a great time to really think about what is important and what can be put on the back burner. Even though I don't do the whole formal resolution thing I am pretty sure every January I make a mental list and prioritize the goals that I have for my family and myself.

I will share one of the goals that I have made for myself for 2010 and it is actually one that I have to stick to or I will be out a good chunk of cash. I will be running in my very first 1/2 Marathon on April 24th. I think back to who I was physically a year ago and I am amazed at how far I have come.

Also, for those of you who are wondering about my current boot camp status, I am still an addicted boot camper! January marks my 10th straight month of camp. I know I promised before and after pictures and they are still coming, but since I am so close to my one year boot camp anniversary I have decided to do the big reveal on that date in April.