It was virtually a 10k!

This was my first experience with a virtual race (I was racing for both the Jog for JS 10k and Running Diva Mom's 10k). I gotta say, it was pretty fun. I signed up for my virtual races a couple of weeks ago, so even though my calf is still not 100%, I knew I was committed so I was going to have to suck it up. The plan was to come home from work, get suited up, and run a 10k planned out by Adorable Wife (I made her double check her route after the Jog for JS debacle). The original plan was for me to go on a route that would take me up a hill with about an 8% incline for about half a mile...fail. A bit of debate and one reroute later, I was ready to get my race on.



See what I mean about the Lederhosen!



Adorable Wife, being the adorable wife that she is, made me a wonderfully stylish race bib. The first idea I had when I learned I would be doing a 10k where the race bib had stylish implications, I wanted to go naked sandwich board style with big boards and rope and the whole bit. A little more thought and a little less material prompted a more conservative approach. Adorable wife was able to preserve the spirit of the sandwich board style race bib (although I think we ended up with an odd combination of bra strap and lederhosen). The straps on top got a little in the way so they had to go about 100 meters into the race, but the rest of the bib held up very well.



Now on to the race. It is a bit odd talking about a race that I was running by myself. I don't know that it felt like a race. I started pretty well, it took me a while to get into the run because it had been a while since I had run this far. It was about after the first couple miles that I was able to get into the run and hit my groove.



Tressa got Brady to do a cheerleader kick for me



The best part of the race by far was having my little cheering section follow me around on the course and give me little bits of encouragement on the way. It was especially great when Tressa would say something like "go hot legs" and then Peyton would echo "go hot legs," not necessarily something you want to hear from your 3 year old, but I'll take all the encouragement I can get.

Adorable Wife did a fantastic job of finding spots on the course so she could continually cheer me on. I don't think I went more than a mile at any one time without having a good "go Jesse" or "you got it honey" or "nice butt."

Overall the race felt much better than expected and I felt good enough to get a pretty good kick at the end of the race. My final time was 46:06, which happens to be a PR. It's going to have Barry Bond's esque asterisk next to it due to Adorable Wife and Daily Mile's questionable mapping skills.

  

Peyton... My biggest cheerleader



My first virtual race ended up being a lot of fun and I will definitely do it again. Certainly makes training runs a lot more interesting...



The Good, The Bad, and The So Ugly!

I have been sitting on these pictures for a little while, debating on whether or not to share. When everyone else posted their's I was all for this game, I figured I would have at least one GOOD picture from my first triathlon. That doesn't really seem to be the case but at least there are some funny ones! So in the name of good sportmanship I will share, just as I promised. But unfortunately, I can't for the life of me, figure out how to copy these suckers so all you get is a link. If you want to see the awfulness, you'll have to do a little work on your end!

The Good-
 http://www.chumpboyphotography.com/p768300550/h4017B4D#h4017b4d
Hey, I'm on the Bike and there are no ridiculous faces being made, I guess that makes it good!

The Bad-
http://www.chumpboyphotography.com/p711554283/h2442C64B#h2442c64b
Running, form. What running form? This is right after the bike and I already have chicken wings! Awesome!

The Super Ugly-
http://www.chumpboyphotography.com/p605304660/h2781F7F0#h2781f7f0
I believe the roll over the tri shorts says it all!

And My Overall Favorite-
http://www.chumpboyphotography.com/p1001030658/h216E05E#h216e05e
That's right Peyton got his own series of photos! If you scroll through there, he is actually in a ton of them! Woops, but he loves it so much!

So if you looked, good for you. If not, Thanks we can still be friends! And if you haven't yet, don't forget to enter my awesome giveaway for an even awesomer necklace HERE!

Hey, Where'd you get that?

Well, first you are probably wondering where Track Coach's recap is. Unfortuantely, good weather called and his inner man pulled him to finishing our fence first, which really gets him good hubby points in my book because I am dying for a fenced in back yard. Our littlest Track Star is quite the wanderer! So to cheer you up and ward off the dissapointment, I have an awesome review for you instead. Satisfied! Ok, now I want a Snickers. Stay focused!

When I got my first set of reflective gear I totally wanted more. Apparently they couldn't see me from space. Specifically I knew something for my head would be good, but I wasn't really down with a head lamp quite yet. Then I happened to be browsing Etsy for headbands when I came across a site that had several reflective ones. I was pumped and intrigued. Enter AC Designs!

She is a mother who began making headbands for her local running group (IronMommies, how cute is that?) when nothing else would stay put. Everyone loved them so much that she is now trying to get her business going to meet the demand. When I first looked not only did she have the normal styles, and the reflective ones, but she also had ones for kids! My sister has been looking for options for her daughter and I thought one of these might be perfect. So I contacted the lovely Aimee and she was nice enough to send me a reflective one to try and one for my niece too! Here are our initial try ons...

See, my other niece in the background is upset because she doesn't have one!

 We were able to test out the Madison's first. You can tell it is made for girls slightly older than her, but luckily she has a pretty big head so it actually fit her ok. The design was super cute and well constructed.  She never complained about it being on her head, and she usually does. To put it to the test we had her twirl around the room and climb up and down off the couch.

Getting ready for a big twirl!

 And as you can see, no slippage! Plus doesn't she look adorable. Since then she has chosen to wear that headband several times and everytime she does, Erica says she gets tons of compliments on it! AC Designs even has cute flowers you can get to attach to the headbands which would up the cute factor by like a million!

 Now to me. I have worn the reflective headband on several occasions and I haven't been hit once, plus number one. With some other bands, I have had actually had issues with slippage, maybe I have a small head, but not with this one, which I love! Whenever I do wear it, I get lots of compliments on it, as you can see it is really reflective, even indoors...

 and even more so outdoors! See here I am after our race, no movement at all. And another great thing is they are very affordable. Compared to some of the other brands, these ones are just $10 dollars!


Dang Snickers again, I'm so hungry!





I totally give these headbands and Aimee two thumbs way up! Head over and check out her site HERE. Even if she doesn't have what you want right now, just ask her. These reflective headbands should be a must have for all night and morning runners! Thanks again Aimee!

[If you would like your product featured or reviewed on Track Coach and Adorable Wife just email us at tressaabe11 [at] hotmail [dot] com]

Yea, I'm not a very good pacer (More Jog for JS results!)

My sister, Erica, was one of the unfortunates (well, maybe fortunates since the course was long) who didn't get to run with us the other night. So last night the two of us set out to get her 5k time. Of course, she refused to be in a picture because she wasn't looking cute enough so I had to do one solo to show you all my outfit...

Again with more Chrissy's knee high socks! I'm thinking this would be a great 100 follower celebration! Start following people!

all though, come to think of it, I don't think Erica has ever let me take her picture so for all you know I am making her up so I can pretend to have a running buddy! Well, then "Erica" and I set out, did our little .2 mile warm up, and took off. This was a route we had run many times before, so it seemed like any other night, but tonight I was trying to stay with her the whole time instead of running ahead and coming back. I wanted to be a real running companion tonight and help her the best I could. Well, I think I sucked at it. For the most part it consisted of me telling her she was doing a great job in a few places (which she was), asking how she was doing (I don't think you're supposed to do that), and then telling her to walk faster if she had to walk (which I think she hated me for).  But despite what I lacked, she did awesome and after having only done one real 5k before, she PR'd by 5 min! It's even better that she PR'd on the JOG for JS race. Today Jesse (Coach) is going to do his 10k after work so he'll have results for that tonight or tomorrow! Wish him luck, he has lots of girls to beat!

Don't be forgettin to enter our giveaway for a stunning "HEART" to run necklace from Jessica's Gifts HERE! You can also check out her other pieces HERE, remember if you buy something now it gets you 5 extra entries!

Motivation Monday-Running for a Cause!

Welcome to the Best Race Ever...

Yes, we were slightly inspired by Michael Scott!

This weekend held the my first ever race where I was in charge of organizing it and putting it on. I would be lying if I said I hadn't been stressing about it a bit. True, it was just family and friends getting together to run a 5k, but since a lot of them weren't runners, I was feeling a lot of pressure to make this event uber fun and hopefully inspire them to keep racing or pick up some sort of activity. Plus, 5k people had no chance at prizes, so I wanted my runners to be winners and that added more stress. But it was good stress. The kind I sort of thrive on. In the end this ended up being our swag bag.

 Since it was a night race (added fun), we had glow necklaces and bracelets, a whistle in case you got lost or came across a strangler, a BFF ring because we are soooo BFFs, Fun Dip as pre-race fuel, a glo-in-the-dark hand sticker (you'll see where that goes in a second), and a popper to start the race with.

Coach and I thankfully got babysitters for the Future Track Stars tonight so we were looking at this like a date night! We left, quickly marked the course that I had measured out two different ways, and went to our meeting spot. Then we waited for everyone to show up, so I took a quick pic of the winning outfit!

The socks are from Chrissy's Knee High Socks HERE (full review and GIVEAWAY to come) and the reflective headband is from AC Designs on Etsy (review to come on this too!) 

Apparently, Jesse's brother Dr. Nathan, also felt the need for a self portrait!

Then everyone arrived, we handed out the swag bags, explained the course (mostly a series of loops and an out and back so we could see each other a lot, in theory), and then we suited up. We had lost a few original racers but we also picked up a few, so the numbers basically evened out. I have a few family members who will be running 5ks later for their times, although that may be good for their times (more on that later!) Of course, we did some pre-race for the cure shots!

The Runners (from leftish)-Drake, Heidi, Sawyer, Hunter, Kannon (stroller), Nate, Jesse, Me, Raya, Kambria, Nathan, Kalli, Ramona, and Clarissa in the front. Not pictured Erica (she was nice enough to take the pictures)

That's right, the stickers were for our butts! They served two purposes; so people could see us from behind and so we had a easy "good game" target!

We just really like pictures with our butts! Heidi, Me, and Clarissa

The race started with a pop, and we took off. Too be funny, Dr. Nathan took off at a sprint, but quickly wore out. One of the young boys (Drake) stayed up by Jesse and Nate the whole time. Us girls were sort of in a cluster for a while but then Clarissa (who remember had already ran a 5 mile race that morning) felt the need to ditch us all and take off. We got a few looks running through the park and the streets of Centralia at night all lit up. When people asked we told them why we were running "We are racing for the cure!" "We are jogging for Jouberts" Then they would totally act like they got it. Even the two shady guys at the end, "Sure Joubert's, cool!" Anyways, we all kept trucking along. Ramona and her girls were are walkers, my mom was supposed to be there too but had to miss it. They did awesome! Poor Heidi had to do it pushing the single jogger but often with an extra child on board.

Raya and I were together when we passed our husbands and they were doing great! Raya's man, Dr. Nathan, doesn't run but he should he was killin it! After a bit I let Raya go on, and I stayed back with Heidi and her boys since my knees were hurting and I didn't want her left in the back. When we got back into the park it was really dark. Like really, really dark! I quickly remembered there were speed bumps when I tripped over one. It was graceful, but I was careful to keep my eye out for them. It felt like we had been running a long time and at some point I lost Heidi to a phone call so I kept going alone.  As I was describing the course to everyone they said it sounded long, but I said I thought it was right, I had double checked. Getting close to the finish, though, it was feeling long, yet somehow I had kept running the whole way. From nowhere a flashing being jumped out and it was Heidi, coming to finish with me. She had cut through the park. So we made our way to the finish line, not very dramatically because it is hard to sprint when you are terrified of face planting over a speed bump. Finally we crossed the table and all our glow in the dark friends! Then I got the bad news. 42:15. That was my time. Ouch, I knew I was running slow and we had to stop to pick up a kid or two, but...oh wait what's that more bad news. The course was 6.2k not a 5k. Oops. Course mapping FAIL! Time still sucks but not as bad I guess!

Luckily no one seemed to mind my goof up too bad! Then it was time for prizes and medals. The prizes, candy bars. That's what you really want after running anyways right? Here is our finishers photo, some people are displaying their medals and prizes! And yes Jesse has a green mouth from slamming home some Fun Dip immediately after the race!

Then a few of us celebrated our kid free existence with a dinner at a local Mexican place and it was awesome! Unfortunately for our poor waiter, we let the boys sit in a booth together and they were ridiculous, but they had a great time! All in all I think we all had a great time. It felt great to be running for such an amazing purpose. Coincidentally we happened to have our race on Livestrong Day! Thank you to all my participants and to Laura for holding such a great event. It makes me very excited to maybe do something like this for autism and Peyton in the spring! And there is still time to do this virtual race, by the way, you have until the 10th! Just click HERE for all the info and tell her we sent ya.

P.S. Don't forget to enter our giveaway for a "HEART" to run necklace HERE. It is awesome motivation courtesy of Jessica's Gifts!

I got 1st(ish)!

On Saturday morning we headed to Tressa's home town (long time no see, oh wait she was there Tuesday) of Onalaska, WA for the 1st Annual Apple Harvest Festival 8k Run! We weren't expecting a huge crowd because it is a super small town and this was the first year. Add to that the fact that I still hadn't run in over a week (men sometimes think they are awesome and try to caber toss a post with cement on the bottom and end up hurting their back like Ross trying to help a pretty girl unload her car,) and I wasn't really that nervous. I kind of figured I would just go out and run, get beat by a bunch of girls, a twelve year old, and a cow or two (it is Ony) and just hope I didn't kill myself and TRY to finish under 40 min or so.

With goals in mind, Adorable Wife and I got the kids all ready to go and headed to the race. We were meeting at the smoke stack (no joke) at the mill pond (again I'm serious, this is home to the Mill Pond Mafia, ah small towns!) I was glad to see some familiar faces when we arrived, a few folks from our previous ward, and a friend of Tressa's from highschool. All in all there ended up being about 20-25 runners and 15 walkers doing the 2 miler. After I got warmed up

I'm not sure how this is warming up, but it is!

Sorry, he just has such a cute smile!

we walked up the road to the starting point. Doug (our friend) felt it appropriate to get any advantage possible...

and Peyton was very anxious to start the race as well....

 And then we took off and he actually followed us for quite a while. Tressa said at one point he was running down the road with Frosted Mini Wheat's in one hand, holding up his pants with the other when he turned around and asked Tressa to take the Mini Wheat's so he could run better. Apparently we eventually got too far ahead. She then distracted him by letting him go through the finish line...

But anyways, back to me. The start of the race was pretty uneventful, although I was a little unnerved by being in first place from the start of the race. I didn't think I was going to be in the front, so I started to question my pace. After all, this was an 8k and not my normal 5k. But I had chosen my pace and I was determined to stick with it, so away I went.

Mid run, I am in first for the moment but am about to get passed for the first time!

About 2 miles into it, I got caught by Eric (I knew his name because I told him to come up and run with me instead of just pacing me 10 feet behind me, he then introduced himself). We ran together for another mile and a half or so until he dropped me like a sack of stinky sweat socks. We made it to one of the turn arounds and I noticed Eric was still trudging up the hill past the turnaround. I asked the lady with the ambulance that was there if this is where we were supposed to turn around and she didn't know. I asked her to call it in and she quickly confirmed that I was right. I yelled up to Eric to turn around and once again I was in first place. That glory would be short lived as Eric once again caught me and then another guy passed me as well. Oh well, third place is good too.

But wait... did the two guys in front of me (who were running together at this point) take another wrong turn? By the time I realized it, they were already too far for me to yell at them and I was once again alone at the front of the pack with only 400 meters to go. I was going to stop and let them catch up because I felt sorry for them, but then Adorable Wife started yelling at me and I was compelled to finish.

Coming into the finish, with my own personal cheer...man!

Walking across the finish because I was all confused!

Tressa's high school friend finishing (first for the girls)

Our friends, Clarissa and Doug, finishing together! Kind of, she left him to sprint in!

Sweet apple medal!

 So there you have it, an eventful race and an unlikely win... My first win for a distance race ever! (Sorry add on) with a stellar time of 41:15(ish) not quite sure. Can't really remember at all but I know it was after 40 min. This was definitely a race of ishes.

Plus the swag for the race was awesome! Probably the best for any race I've been to per capita. They had a lot of giveaways in a raffle drawing and it seemed like pretty much everybody got something. I ended up winning a $25 gift certificate, a commemorative towel from the Apple Harvest Festival. a water bottle, and a plaque and bottle of vitamin supplements for winning the race... Not bad for a $15 entry fee.

After all that excitement we headed to the In-Laws for some pancakes and sausage before hitting the rest of the festival. We slammed down the food and headed up the street for the parade. This was really our boys first parade and they didn't quite get it. People would throw candy, but as soon as Peyton got his first piece, he was satisfied and didn't feel the need to pick up anymore and Brady liked to pick it up and get dangerously close to the passing cars and throw it back. Therefore Tressa and I ended up picking up all the candy like greedy adults! P did enjoy all the animals and I had fun conquering the little kids rock climbing wall! A good morning in Onalaska!

Don't forget to enter our giveaway for a "HEART" to run necklace from Jessica's Gifts. I think the Wife is currently trying to figure out how to enter her own giveaway! Just click HERE, so easy!

Jessica's Gifts Giveaway!

I promised you guys some giveaways and here is the first to kick them off!

It was quite obvious this weekend that running jewelry is hot! Lots of people were sporting stuff and not only were they cute and stylish, but great statement pieces. What a way to tell people that you are AWESOME at just a glance! When I noticed this craze was taking off, I went over to Etsy in search of some pieces. Then I came across a site I had heard about on other blogs, Jessica's Gifts! Her selection was great and I loved her layered pieces. When I contacted her about doing something for my readers she was kind enough to oblige. That's right. You all have the chance to win one of her custom necklaces. I picked out this one...

it was one of my favorites! When it arrived in the mail, I was so excited to see it, (I even ran next door to show my sister) and it looks even better in person! Of course now I want one even more and this is the one I am lusting after, hint hint Track Coach, Christmas is coming up!

She will even do custom designs for you if nothing you see is quite right. Plus there are tons of options for commemorating races, which if I ever do a marathon (cough, probably not) I would totally get as much proof for that as possible! So how do you win this awesome runners necklace! Easy, just leave a separate comment for each ....

Mandatory-
~Become a follower of Track Coach and Adorable Wife
~Visit Jessica's Gifts on Etsy HERE and tell me your favorite piece

Optional-
~Like Jessica's Gifts on Facebook and leave her a comment telling her you found her through our giveaway
~Make a purchase from Jessica, its never too early to get some Christmas shopping done (worth 5 entries)
~Add us to your blog roll
~Tweet, fb, or blog about this giveaway (one entry for each)

This giveaway will end around midnight on Oct 8th and I will post the winner on the 9th before I leave for Portland! Thank you so much to Jessica for sponsoring this awesome giveaway!

Speaking of awesome giveaways, the gracious Diana from Diana Tries-a-Tri is sharing the love and doing a giveaway just because. She has gathered up some of her favorite things to share with us to pay it forward! So go over, say hi, and enter!

If you would like your product or company featured on Training w/ a Track Coach and His Adorable Wife please contact us at tressaabe11 [at] hotmail [dot] com