Random Stuff and My Favorite Races!

I really can't believe that it has been so long since my last post! My super stud hubby called dibs on our computer due to yet another fantasy baseball draft!! I think he has like six teams and he has another draft tonight:) Good Lord! I was sort of complaining to him about how crazy he is when it comes to his fantasy drafts! He then turned things on me. He asked, "Jules, how many Saturday races do you have planned in April, May, June and July? How many times are you planning to run with your running group this summer?" This is when I got very quiet and let him have the computer:) Yes, I lost this argument! I think all of my races cost more than his little fantasy projects! Not to mention the time that is involved with running in general:)

I took Sunday off from running but continued on Monday. I ran seven miles and then ran another six on Tuesday evening. Yesterday was my day off from work but I did a three miler and worked on speed:) After I am done posting this I will go out and do an easy four or five miler. I did my push-up challenge for the week and I am done!!! Happy dance and jumping up and down for joy!! These push-ups are really hard and I am starting to get man arms....Jeff, I am not sure I am digging it anymore. Don't worry, I am not going to throw in the towel. I am just saying that I want girl arms...not boy arms:)

On Monday little Jill over at Finishing is Winning posted her Monday Brain Exchange. Jill wanted to know what everyone's favorite races were and why. I think we were supposed to cap it off with top three but I am going with four. It was hard to narrow it down:)

I will have to say that my favorite so far has been the Get Lucky! 7k in Minneapolis! This was the last race that I competed in. I had such a blast for many reasons! It was so well organized, the race officials and volunteers really had it together!! There was an awesome positive energy flowing for the entire time that I was there. My husband came with and cheered me on:) Thanks Babe!! I really liked my medal and special hoodie! My husband and I were able to have a beer after the race and listen to an Irish band! I was also able to meet my blogger buddy Chris!

My second favorite was the St. Paul Securian Half Marathon. Speedo Steve talked me into this one! I clearly told him that I was most likely not ready for it and that I didn't train enough. He basically told me that I could totally do it and to go for it! This was such a fun race! I was scared to death because I was a half marathon virgin and wasn't sure if I could do it. This race wasn't the most wonderful in terms of how I felt when I was running but it was great for other reasons. This was the biggest race that I had ran in up to that point and there were so many nice runners to chat with:) It was a hard race for me and I struggled through the second half of it but I made it:) I was so proud of myself for doing it and finishing! I met two blogger friends at this run too! Beth and Steve are both very nice!! Oh, and if you were not reading my blog when I posted this race recap...I did not run at a 7:38 minute mile pace:) Yea, that was a little joke...he he!! My finish time for my first half was 2:01!

The next race that comes to mind was my first ten mile! I ran Woman Run The Cities never ever running more than six or seven miles! I was not nervous because I had the attitude that I was doing it for fun!! I surprised myself and had a time of 1:23!! I was such a running rookie...check out my Timex watch:)

This is a picture of me and my daughter Kay. Kay started to run 5ks with me last summer and this was her favorite race:) We both ran in the Granite City 5k in St. Cloud. This was the first race that we ran together, so it will always be special to me!! I thought that the course was tough but she loved it:) Kay and I have been able to run in so many other 5k races together and it is so wonderful being able to share the passion for running. Kay ran in her first varsity track meet on Wednesday night and she did awesome:) The head coach asked to to run in the next varsity meet!! Go Kay:)

Good luck to Matt Patten and Brian W. who are both running the Zumbro 100 miler tomorrow!!

This Saturday I am running in the Run The Valley 10K in Golden Valley:) That is all that I have...I hope that everyone enjoys the rest of their week!! I need to catch up with everyone's blogs....the computer is all mine tonight! Happy running and keep smiling:)

MCM Mamma is hosting a GU giveaway!

Molly is hosting a Vitalicious Vita-Tops chocolate yummy things giveaway:)

Tara is hosting a Ryder Eyewear giveaway!

Marcia is hosting a Chia Seeds giveaway!

Angie is hosting a Nuun giveaway!