November: Turkey Trot

Nothing like a Turkey Trot to get you ready for the Thanksgiving feast!

This was my second year to run the Turkey Trot here in Houston, and I do believe this event is one of my favorites. It's a HUGE event - we're talking 15,000 people participating! The course is also through Uptown, which is just awesome. We run along streets that are usually jam-packed with traffic, so it's a cool feeling to be there on foot and in the middle of the road. Of course, 15,000 people just creates a different kind of traffic.


The Mister and I ran the 5k. One, because it's cheaper. Two, because it's shorter. And three, because there was a FEAST waiting! Can't have Turkey Trot time cutting into turkey time, can we?

I went into the run aiming to finish in under 35 minutes. I figured that was a realistic goal for the pace I'd been running while training, and I felt that it left enough wiggle room for stroller-dodging and human traffic jams. I'm happy to report that we crossed the finish line at 34:46! I am definitely proud of that time, and meeting a goal is such a good motivator.

The trot was festive, the crowd was lively, and the weather was beautiful. And best of all? Guilt free dessert!

Have you ever run a Turkey Trot?

October: Moonlight Bicycle Ramble

Oh my goodness.  SO. MUCH. FUN.  Saturday night the Mister and I rode all over this beautiful city in the middle of the night.  That's right, ladies and gentlemen - Westheimer, the Galleria, Allen Parkway, downtown Houston - all on bicycles!  Seriously, we rode down roads that I avoid in my vehicle.  The one with an engine.

We started rolling at the convention center at 12am Sunday morning. So many of the bicycles were decked out in rope lights and reflectors.  (I'll definitely be decorating my bicycle next year!) The whole group was so festive and ready to go.  The clock struck, and we were off!

weekend - it's over already?

Woorrrkkk...
 is crazy.

Today is the 15th of September. Today is also a Monday. I work in taxes.

 I am looking forward to a happy hour at the end of this day.



 Saturday morning, Sean and I rode the Park to Port ride - a 20 mile, family friendly bike ride from Hermann Park to the Port of Houston. Both of these landmarks are celebrating their 100th birthdays, so the ride was one event of many to celebrate. The weather was icky - drizzly rain, grey skies, chilly temperatures. (I'm a Houston girl and consider 75 degrees to be chilly. Don't judge.) Hence the hot mess that is my hair. I mean, I'm no beauty queen after any event, but that right there is out of control.

But hey, it's tax season, so I'm just happy to get outside - rain or shine.

Saturday afternoon I went to...(drumroll please) work. Yes, it's lame. No, I do not have a picture.

But to combat the lameness, Saturday evening the mister and I tried a new dessert/coffee/wine/beer place. Sounds awesome? It was awesome. You should go.

Red Dessert Dive

Sunday after church I did... you guessed it... more work!

Womp womp.

Did I mentioned that today is deadline day?
Happy taxes, all you corporations and partnerships!

August: Triathlon (!)

SO INTENSE.  Y'all, a triathlon is no joke.  Last weekend, Sean and I completed a sprint distance triathlon in Clear Lake.

If you've been following along on my New Year's resolution, you'll know that I've completed my share of 5k fun runs and bike rides.  So when my friend, Gabby, asked if me if I wanted to do a triathlon with her, I was pumped!  Nervous for sure, but excited about the challenge.  Besides, she asked me in April, so I would have four months to train and would totally be prepared!

The Clear Lake sprint triathlon consisted of the following:

500yds swimming
23k biking (just over 14 miles)
2.1 mile run

Not too bad right?  I was completely confident about the running, since the distance was shorter than a 5k and I've been running those for years.  Also, running is my favorite sport (no hand-eye coordination or flying objects), so I could get excited about that leg..

I also wasn't worried about the cycling portion.  I'm not as experienced as the Mister in this portion, but we've completed several rides at longer distances, so I knew I could finish that leg strong, even if I had to take it slowly.

But swimming.  Oh my swimming.  This leg would be the challenge, so I knew I would have to focus most of my training here.  Get a Y membership, buy some goggles, learn to swim.  But with four summer months to train, I could definitely prepare for 500yds!

Which is true.  You can definitely learn to swim as sport in four months.  If you train.  Unfortunately, my work schedule stayed busy through the summer and I started working fall-busy-season overtime in July, only a couple of weeks after getting home from Israel.  I did get that Y membership, but it went unused too many days while I worked late.  Too often the story, isn't it?

So let's talk about race day.


We left super early so we could get there about 45 minutes before the transition area closed.  (Triathlon learning point: you set up your biking/running gear in the transition area before the race begins.  Googled this a lot pre-race.  Google answers all questions.)  I was feeling pretty good so far - race day morning was going much smoother than is typical for me: good breakfast, leaving early, feeling calm.  About 10 minutes from the race location (read: 30 minutes from home) the worst of the worst happened.  I had forgotten my swim gear.  I had gone over and over my transition pack to make sure I was ready to start those other legs when I got out of the water, so i didn't think about getting in the water...

Did y'all know a 2003 Camry can sustain 90+ mph for 30 miles?

Thankfully, we made it back in plenty of time to set up.  That everything-is-ruined feeling lifted, and normal race day butterflies took it's place.

The gun went off and the olympic distance folks took off.
Then the first men's wave.
Then Sean's wave.
Then the first ladies' wave.

My wave was the last wave, and finally it was my turn.  And swimming is HARD.  I was under-prepared physically and mentally.  We were in salt water, which drained my energy even faster.  I would swim a little bit, tire out, and flip over and float on my back.  I completed the swim portion in 17:51.4 - 18 agonizing minutes.  I was third-to-last out of the water, and last into the transition area, putting me in last place of my wave.

I want to be honest here.  There were some moments in the water that I was ready to quit.  I was on the verge of panicking.  I was angry at myself for not training enough.  I hadn't considered the fact that the swim was in salt water, and I was dehydrating quickly.  I hate losing, so I was feeling pretty down on myself for being one of the last people in the water.  I was angry and sad and overwhelmed and embarrassed.

About two-thirds through the swim, I realized that I was only thinking negative thoughts.  And that is not how you finish a race.  So I stopped those thoughts.  I swallowed my pride.  I was slow, but I was persevering.  I wouldn't win, but I would finish.  If it took me all day, I was going to complete this triathlon.  And I would finish with my head held high.  I would be proud of myself for my effort and my attitude, not my time at the finish line or my number in the ranking.

That's a lot of feelings for 17 minutes and 51.4 seconds.

I took my time at transition to rehydrate and prepare for the cycling portion.  I was last out of transition, but I was feeling so much better.  The cycling portion went smoothly and I was grateful to be out of the water and on the bike.  I passed the girl in front of me, but she passed me back when I pulled over for some water. (Note to self: get a squeeze bottle.  My bottle fits too tightly in the holder, so I had to pull over to get it out - otherwise I probably would have thrown myself into traffic.)  I did have to walk a portion of the Kemah Bridge, but I'm not ashamed, just disappointed.  Just before transition, I passed two ladies on their bikes, and it turns out they were in my wave!  My average pace on the bike was 12.6 mph, and my total bike time was 1:08:20.8.

My second transition was much quicker, and I started the run portion.  I drank an entire bottle of water before the first water station; my body was still so dehydrated from the salt and the heat.  I then drank another cup of water at the first water station, and dumped the second cup of ice water on my head.  BEST DECISION EVER.  I alternated running and walking, and really enjoyed the last leg of the race.  There were lots of race participants still on this portion, for both the olympic and sprint distances, and I was happy to have other people around.  And the volunteers at the water stations were so encouraging. I ran the last portion and finished with a smile for the camera!

Let's take another look at these happy finisher faces, shall we?



Total time: 2:05:06.8
Final place: 16/16 in my wave, 242/248 overall

Nothing to brag about, but I'm so proud to have finished!  I'll just plan on being the most improved participant next time. :)

July: Katy Flatland

July - check!

I am loving this new year's resolution.  First of all, it has kept fitness and staying active at the front of my mind.  Life is busy (can I get an amen?), and I know that if I weren't planning and registering for these events, I would fill that time with other things.  Maybe wonderful things, maybe not.  Probably not outdoor, active things, though.

Also, I think I've fallen in love with riding a bicycle.  I never really thought much about bicycles - I had one growing up and we'd ride around the neighborhood, but that was about it.  Now I'm cranking out these 20-30 mile rides, and it opens so many doors.  Oh the places I can get to in 20-30 miles!  I feel an adventure brewing...

Anyway, onto July's event debrief!  Sean and I rode the Katy Flatland - just under 28 miles in the Katy area.  We kept it casual and just rode for fun.  Perhaps my favorite part was that this ride had a rolling start.  Do you know what that means?  I woke up when there was a 7 on the clock, not a 5 or a 6.  Which is sleeping in for an event morning.  A rolling start also means that we did not have to take off in the pack, so it was super easy and chill.

So chill, that I didn't even take any pictures.  Womp womp.

Easy ride, pretty area, and the host was a local high school, so the facilities were top notch.  No port-a-potties for this ride!  They had a wonderful half way rest stop, with the full spread of snacks and plenty of water.  The Katy Flatland was well put together and stress free for me.  I'm putting this one in my calendar for next year, I do believe.

Keep riding!

May: 5k Foam Fest

Have I mentioned how much I love fun runs?

I love the themes and the after-parties and the costumes and the crowds and all the festivities.  The 5k Foam Fest was a 5k run with obstacles, which was so fun!  Most of the big obstacles were inflatables.  And they were covered in foam.  And I loved it.  We also climbed over a rope net, crawled under some wires through the mud, ran across a floating path, and crossed the finish line by going down a huge inflatable slide. So. Fun.

Go get some exercise! You'll have a blast, I just know it.

April: Rusty's Run

Spring time!  I love this time of year - the flowers are blooming and the trees are sprouting their new leaves.  Colors are their brightest and nature is just having a party.  Which is basically how I feel at the end of winter.  I am so happy when the cold, wet, rainy days finally give way to some sunshine.  Summer will be here before you know it!

Every year, the weekend before Easter, my church has a Spring Fling, complete with face painting, inflatables, snacks, games, a silent auction, and an Easter egg hunt.  There is also the annual Rusty's Run - a 5k fun run with a 1k race for the kiddos.  

I took this one easy and, per tradition, brought the pupsqueak.  The mister wanted to compete this year, so he took off while we moseyed around the course with my friend Carly, enjoying the fresh air and sunshine.

It was a lovely, low-key fun run with lots of friends and lots of laughter.  Jessie-dog had a blast meeting all the other pups and being generally ridiculous (per the usual).  The mister got 4th place over all and won his bracket.  The prize is bragging rights and smack talk until next year's event.  Ha.

Rusty's Run is one of my favorite church traditions because it gets whole families out playing and exercising in the sunshine.  The weather is warming up, and we can all play outside again!  Spring is here!

March: Center SpringFest Metric Century (a.k.a. my first ride)

For my first ever official road race, I knew I would need to train up:

• Cardio - I ran regularly more than zero times since that February 5k. 
• Technique - I got on a bike for the first time in 10 years.  And did that at least four times!  And I'm not even talking about the stationary bike, so we're serious here.
• Endurance - Rode 10 miles with Sean one Saturday to see how I'd hold up.  We did stop somewhere in the middle to pet some puppies that were up for adoption, but we can just call that a water break, right?
• Mental preparation - I signed us up, so it was do or die.  Or forfeit the registration fee.  So as I said, do or die.

What could go wrong?

The ride we signed up for was only the 23 miler, which I was assured by friends and family that a newbie like me could complete.  After all, I was not going for time, just survival. 

Then, a week before the ride, I get an email.  "Lucky you!  More miles for your dollar!"

Come again?

Due to construction, there had to be a little rerouting for the ride.  The new path was 30 miles now.  I know that adding seven miles to a 63 mile ride is no big deal, but I'm signed up for the 23 miler!  I've never done this before!  I'M NEVER GOING TO MAKE IT!  

(Spoiler alert - I made it)

Sean talked some sense into me and we agreed not to bail.  The ride was out in Sealy (beautiful countryside, some terrible roads), so Sean and I got up before dawn to head out of town.  We stuffed both bikes in my Camry (do what you gotta do) drove 45 minutes out to Sealy, unpacked and reassembled our bikes, and headed over to the starting line.  I'll admit, I was pretty nervous about the beginning of the group ride.  If one rider goes down, we ALL go down.  I wasn't worried about falling so much as about being that person.  That person who ends up being part of a post like this because she fell at the starting line and took down half the riders.  Geez, doesn't she know how to ride a bike?

Luckily, my shaky start did not cause a mass wreck, so my first goal was done!  Survival of the starting line!  I even managed to flip my pedals and get my feet in my cages in the mass of people.  Sound tricky?  You're right, it is.

Once we got going, I was feeling pretty good.  Sean and I caught up to a woman who was taking a slow and steady pace that he thought I could manage.  We kept pace and I was feeling pretty professional (mile 8ish).  Then Sean mentioned that he needed a bathroom break.  Fine by me - I'm just along for the ride.  Just ahead is a little country store and the neon is on!  Open for business at 8am!  It must be meant for us, right?

Wrong.  Sean didn't like the look of it for his potty stop.  So we kept riding.  Into the countryside.  With no more country stores.  Another mile or so.

Sean: "Ok, I've really got to go."

Me: "Ok pull over.  How about that tree?"

Sean: "No! People will SEE me!"

Another half a mile.

Me: "What about behind that wall?"

Sean: "That is someone's property!  I can't do that!"  (Fair enough, but it was the driveway, and I was suggesting he go on the other side of the wall, not the driveway side.  Desperate times and all that).

Another half mile or so, and Sean is sort of groaning at this point.  I'm a little concerned he's going to die.  Because I'm pretty convinced that if the country store wasn't good enough, he's certainly not going to just go for it.  Luckily for hubs we come across a little country lane that is BETWEEN properties and has LOTS of trees.  He tumbles off his bike and takes care of business.  Irony of ironies, that's when a ride marshall passes by... 

but luckily does not see us.  Crisis averted.  Let the adventure continue!

Now that I had my sunshiny ride partner back instead of the panic-stricken fellow I had been following, our ride took a turn for the better.  Morale was up.  The actual sun came out, and warmed us up from the chilly morning that had been numbing our fingers and noses.  We got past the roughest roads and were enjoying the new pavement.  We were still fighting a pretty strong headwind, but that's so much better in the sunshine.

We made it halfway through the ride to the pit stop.  There were peanut butter sandwiches, bananas, cookies, water, and plenty of other tasty power snack options.  There were also port-a-potties.  And nice, clean ones.  Poor Sean.

After a quick snack break and selfie, we got back on the road.  The weather had turned b-e-a-utiful and we were having a blast.  Laughing and cruising and just all around enjoying ourselves.  We were making good time; our headwind had become a tailwind since the trail was a loop and we were past the turnaround.  We knew we were getting close and just had one more leg to go!

We take a left, following some riders in front of us, and the path stops looking familiar.  The course looped back around on the same path, so it should look familiar.  We pull over, and sure enough, we had taken a wrong turn.  We were not the only ones stopped on our incorrect road, and luckily we were not far from our last turn.  We all head back, picking up other riders who had apparently made the same mistake.  We get to the intersection, and the right turn doesn't look familiar either.  However, it's a three-way intersection, so the right turn has to be right, right?

Wrong.  A mile down the road, we figure that we're lost again.  There are other riders going the other way, saying that now we've made a wrong turn.  Well shoot.  You may be thinking, "oh, at least it's just a mile - not too bad."  Wrong.  Remember how the ride had already gotten longer?  Well that mile was mile 27ish.  And we were not even close to the finish line.  We pull up the ride map again, and it looks like that intersection should have been four ways!  Well if we weren't able to find AN ENTIRE ROAD we figured we might as well just take the road we're on.  We could see from Google that it would eventually get us to the finish, it was just the looooonnggg way back.

I would like to tell you that I was brave.  That I was all "hakuna matata and get on your bikes!  We'll have a great time!  We'll feel successful and make it in record speed!"

But I wasn't.  I was way past my limit and being lost was that last straw.  I was tired and hungry and sore and worst of all, we were now back to battling that headwind as we looped around.  I cried a little was not a very happy camper.

But y'all, I MADE IT!  35 miles!  Sure, my legs were jello and I slept the rest of the day, but who's here to judge?  Sean and I will chock this one up to a "bonding experience," and I'll cross March off the list.  Happy riding!

February: HAWC Race Against Violence

Round two!

For February, I ran the Race Against Violence 5k supporting the Houston Area Women's Center.  HAWC assists survivors of domestic and sexual abuse get back on their feet.  The center hosts families until they can rebuild and restart.  My firm has chosen HAWC as one of the charities we are supporting this year, so there were several of us there to participate.  I love that something as simple as a 5k can do so much good in our community! 

So if you'll recall from my new year's resolution post, the whole idea of this resolution was to keep me exercising regularly.  Yeah, no.  Pretty sure I only ran about five times between the Choco Loco 5k and this one.  And I was huffing and puffing to show it.  Well, I guess I did succeed in creating some consequence for my lack of discipline!  Motiviation, I suppose.

Panting or no, I'm glad I turned out for this run.  The weather was incredible - just chilly enough to make you look forward to breaking a sweat.  It was so fun to have some other friends out on the course as well!

Rose (on the left) killed it.  She's training for the Bearathon in Waco, proudly advertised as the hardest half marathon in Texas.  

Sean did not kill it because he's sweet and ran with me instead.  And what I mean by "ran" is that he picked his feet up a little higher while walking so I could pretend we were running together.  He's basically the fastest human I've ever met, but I love that for some of these casual runs he hangs back with me.  I'll have to step up my game and make him actually jog next time.  It'll be intense.  Or not.

Stay tuned for March - I'm riding my first ever bike road race.  On a bike I've only used a couple of times.  That should be interesting...