A New Addiction :)

It all started one afternoon, no different from many other afternoons - I was catching up on a few blogs I like to read, doing a little online shopping and checking my email - I love tabs & I rarely have less than 2 open at all times....

I was admiring the super cute outfits of one particular runner/blogger, thinking the usual 'Holy cow! I couldn't spend that much on one piece of running clothing! (I have TERRIBLE buyers remorse over EVERYTHING!) And she mentioned finding a few of her pieces on Ebay.... duhn, duhn, duuuuuuhhhnnnn....

Naturally, I opened a new tab and began browsing..... skeptical at first, but then.... I stumbled across a ton of stuff that was new, I mean, never been used, brand new! Of course, I bid, super low, because I really didn't know what I was doing.... and then..... low and behold.... last Saturday, and here's the great part, AFTER my PR race, WHILE Christmas tree shopping, BEFORE going to the parade.... I won something!!!!!!

Yes, you're probably thinking it, Saturday was the best. day. ever! :) (kind of kidding, kind of serious.... it was a ton of fun that's for sure!!!!)

I immediately paid with Paypal and discovered a downside....well, it's not really a downside, more of just a downer... the wait! I have been trying to stalk my package, but I haven't been able to/taken the time to figure out how to get it to work from the email Ebay sent, so I've just been waiting....

.....and waiting......and waiting.....

BUT.......

Today is THE day! My brand new Nike running pants at 1/3 the retail cost (YESSS!!! Now, if Fl weather would cooperate so I could actually wear them.....) should be in my PO Box TODAY!!! :)

Honestly, and realistically, running gear can get pretty expensive (although that bumper sticker is still true - I'm sure it's cheaper than therapy!) and I have to pick and choose where I spend my money. Currently, (starting after this most recent purchase of course!) I am saving up for a GPS watch. I have the Nike Sportband, but it isn't GPS and I really feel like I need the accuracy of a GPS watch.... now I just have to control my spending and not waste money on impulse buys that I don't actually need...

What do you track your runs with? 

Have you ever bought anything off of Ebay? What was it? Was it a positive experience?

5k Yay!

I got to do two of my favorite things on Saturday - I ran a 5k & I went to our local Christmas parade! :)

(ps - I really hate taking pictures, but I just had to capture this moment!)

   I came in 1st in my age group & got a PR!! :) Even though I just ran a half less than a week earlier, I was feeling pretty good about being able to race. My only concern was that my training had been very focused on adding distance and working on my 1/2 goals. I really wanted to place, but I just wasn't sure if my legs were going to be able to move fast enough!

   I got one speed workout in at the track, 2x800, 2x1200, 2x800 with 200's between to recover. I was shooting for a 7:30 pace, but I ended up doing 8:15-8:30, which was still faster than my previous 5k PR pace (9:10).

   Here's the thing: I managed an 8:30 pace in the 5k, which got me a PR and 1st place in my age group, BUT.... that's the pace I need to be able to run 26.2 miles for a BQ - whaaaaaa? Well, gotta start somewhere - at least I'm hitting it in my 5k, now I just have to work on hitting it for my half.... that's my next goal... just takin' it one goal at a time... :)

.....and now for the Christmas Parade and my Loves.....

This picture really captures they way they felt about the whole thing... Cam was super excited and Josh was a little hesitant about the whole thing. Cameron went for the candy, Josh sat in my lap clutching his two favorite pieces of candy.

I love lOvE LOVE watching the Christmas parade! The lights, the music, the candy - I just wish it wasn't 80 degrees! (Confession: I'm a total parade geek - I ALWAYS watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade every year!!)

Do you race with goal times in mind or just to have fun?

Do you like parades? I love 'em! I also love the race sign that says "Worst parade ever" ha! I bet it's actually pretty entertaining to watch a bunch of runners galloping by!

My First Half Marathon!!!!!

OK - I've got a TON of ground to cover!
1) Headbands of awesomeness - The folks at Hippie Runner did an awesome job getting my shipment out quickly so that my headbands got here before I even packed for my race! I absolutely LOVE their headbands - I wore the 1st ones I bought for 2 years! I love that they are wide AND stay put for my entire run.

2) OMG - My 1st half marathon was last Sunday! For some reason, I chose the Space Coast to be my first - it's only about 3 hours away.... so I got a hotel and dragged my loving family along and... IT. WAS. AMAZING!!! Oh I so can't wait to go back next year! Maybe then I'll do the full...
+ it was a pretty big race, (3000 doing the half, 2000 doing the full - no nyc, but to me 5000 people is a lot!) But there was enough space (haha space - get it?) so that we were able to spread out and I didn't have to walk or weave at the beginning.
+ beautiful view along the run - coastline on one side and awesome neighborhood people on the other cheering everyone on!
+ plenty of water stations & amazing volunteers (even though I carried my own water - they were very positive & encouraging)
+ So thankful for the shuttle bus from the hotel to the starting line so that I didn't have to stress out about parking on race day.

I had an 'A' goal of under a 10 min pace since my training had a set back this summer & I had a 'B' goal of finishing in under 2:30. I ended up with a 9'50ish pace! So happy!!! Now, I need to figure out how I'm going to train for my next half in March ;) Yes, I am totally hooked!

How do you set your goal race pace?

(This is from my NEW Galaxy S4,  so I think the pics are stuck at the bottom.  They are both if me pre-race, in the non - pot - a - potties at the start line. I wanted a little privacy for my picture taking! Ha! I'm just a big ole' chicken when it comes to taking pictures in public. )

Check out that bathroom floor! Ha!