THE COLOR RUN PORTLAND

was Saturday. Although I couldn't run it because of cooler toe, I was able to participate in the finale and get colorful. What a fun, fun, FUN morning we had at The Color Run Portland!

Us girlies BEFORE

and AFTER 

Please note my impressive and skilled cooler toe lift so I can participate, with out 'participating'.

This will no doubt be an annual event for us.

PS - Do you remember when we participated in The Color Run Seattle in May?  I wish I could participate every month, now THAT would be an awesome!

HOOD TO COAST 2012

I was one of the 3600 volunteers this weekend for Hood to Coast - the largest relay in the world, and it was SO much fun!

We were so excited when we saw part of our team at the exchange we were volunteers at.
Here's Heather pointing to a great parking spot.  That was our job - directing traffic at Exchange 30.

I was also looking for my brother, Ivon, and one of my idols - running extraordinaire, Kelly, but didn't see either one of them - bummer for me!

Seeing these five smiling faces, you'd never guess they were exhausted, would you?!

It was only a four hour shift and it was inspiring, motivating and a blast.  I saw runners of all ages and skill level.  My favorite runner was an older man - he looked like he was in his 80's and he was spunky and booking it - I loved watching him running past me to the end of his leg.  It was so awesome.

All the runners were so happy, positive and incredibly APPRECIATIVE of the volunteers.  Countless "thanks for being here!", "thanks for volunteering!", etc...from the runners, they handed us tokens of appreciation - lollipops, noise makers, high fives, huge exhausted smiles and I even got serenaded with "Call Me Maybe" - so funny.

Super fun experience and I absolutely want to be one of the runners next year.

COLOR RUN SEATTLE

was this morning and this race was amazing and so, so, SO much fun!

Larry hurt his foot, so he was unable to do the 5K with us.  Here we are all clean in bright white.

They sent us out in waves of 1000, every 2 minutes.  It was breathtaking seeing the seas of white.
Every kilometer, we got a different color.  So incredibly fun!

After the race we were a kaleidoscope of color - we loved it!

At the end they had a grand finale of color.  After a countdown, color got hurled into the air.  It was even more beautiful with the Space Needle as backdrop.

Now I'm even more excited for Color Run Portland in September!!

MY NEW BEST FRIEND

I've been having problems with shin splints.  Thanks to guidance from my Gallagher Running Clinic leaders and compression socks, they are healing quite well but they could be better.
We have come to the conclusion that my calves are the culprit of my shin ailments, so I purchased The Grid today.

I had NO IDEA my calves were so tight!  After 5 minutes of "YOWZA!" and some achy face expressions, I couldn't believe how that hurt made me feel so good!  I was so excited with the difference, I used it full body.  I can't wait to notice the difference on Monday from today.  My muscles are going to be on their way to Loosey Goosey City and I'm so happy!

Trigger Point is my new best friend.  Shin splint riddance is afoot.

THE COLOR RUN 2012

will be in our neck of the woods. I'm so excited!! Seattle's race is May 13 and
Portland's race is September 29th.

A FOUR MILE

rainy run this morning with six of my running mates, is how I started the weekend. What a beautiful run it was with all the spring blooms to look at.Luckily, the last mile the rain let up. I was hoping I'd sweat the last of the germies out, but I'm all wet so I can't tell. Cross your fingers and toes for me.

KT TAPE TO THE RESCUE

I know I don't look like an athlete, but since I have a running injury and get to be taped up, does that mean I can call myself an athlete?

I've hurt my peroneal tendon - poor me. I've heard wonders about KT Tape and have high hopes.Clinic is in 2 weeks - I need to be hunky-dorey because I am ready and so excited for it to start back up!

I've been loving running the past 9 months but have a few frustrations too.

Loves:

1. Lung capacity improvement. I'm not sucking wind the whole time I run - love that!

2. My running mates rock.

3. I am looking forward to running faster and longer - I never thought I'd hear myself say that!

Frustrations:

1. I thought weight would come off faster. I think part of it has to do with my allergy situation wreaking havoc on my bod, but still, I thought I'd be shrinking. I look the same.

2. My speed - my dang speed. I know it comes with time, and it is getting faster, but I'd love to see my speed improve faster - like over night.

All you running rockstars, you're my idols.

I RAN A 10K

this morning in Turner, with one of my running mates, Johanna. After the first mile it snowed on us pretty hard. It was my first run in the snow and we finished with sun. It was beautiful!Reason #7665 I love Larry. He woke up super early, on a really cold morning to drive me out to the race, stayed there to cheer me on AND, he tied my shoe for me after I removed the timing chip.

Twue wuv, I tell ya, twue wuv.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO KNOW THE TRUTH,

I'm walking a little like this.

GIRLFRIENDS HALF MARATHON

I ran my first half marathon with Molly, Jamie and Heidi this weekend. I've been taking a running clinic at Gallagher's but am not at half marathon running level yet. Sunday, I was wondering what I got myself into but I knew I'd have fun.
The atmosphere was electric. 3000 women running, walking, skipping, some even wearing tutus and pink wigs, bonding for a cause - breast cancer awareness.Along the course Larry and Lach, Shane, Mikel and Haley were there high fiving and encouraging. It was so fun seeing and hearing them.As we crossed the finish line we received water bottles and a necklace from the firefighters. As we got food and ate there was a band playing, people cheering and hugging. It was awesome.

The break down of my race:
I ran the first 10 miles. I felt great at mile 6 but then I felt myself get slower. At mile 10 my legs were screaming at me and on the verge of cramping. I walked 2 miles and ran the last 1.1 miles. I'm a slow runner so my goal was to run the race in 3 hours. I beat my goal! My time was 2:59:03. I couldn't believe that with walking 2 miles I still beat my time by 57 seconds!

I WAS IN PERRY THIS

weekend with my family at the Jeff Young Fun Run.We had perfect weather and a gorgeous view.
Believe it or not, I did not finish the 5K last.
We wore a t-shirt Jeff designed, there was a silent auction, bake sale, Mexican food, snow cones, face painting, raffles and a candy cannon.

Photo on bottom left taken by Ivon

We had so much fun celebrating Jeff and being with family.
One of the best parts of the day was imagining that Jeff was laughing at us because he had so many women in an elk t-shirt.

FUN RUN

Many of you know my cousin, Jeff, passed away unexpectedly in March.
Perry, Utah is hosting a "Jeff Young Fun Run" as a fundraiser for Jeff's children on Saturday, June 11.
If you live in Utah, please come - it will be a lot of fun. There will also be a raffle, silent auction and bake sale.
If you don't live in Utah, you can still register and run the 5K or walk the 1 mile where you live.
If you would like a registration form email Kristal at ksmall84302@yahoo.com
There is also a Jeff Young Memorial Fund set up at US Banks.

I'M AN ELVIS FAN

Always have been, always will....

In August, there is an Elvis is Alive 5K in Chicago that I would LOVE to run in.

It's an annual event, so maybe next year.....

LARRY DID HIS FIRST

5K this morning.
We ran in Sandi's Run, which benefits the Susan G. Komen Foundation with my dad and some friends .... He did great and I beat my time!

KRISTEN PISTEN

Photo taken from Kristen's facebook account

I have always admired Kristen for both her inner and outer beauty and her kind spirit.
She's one of those people that you love instantly.
She's amazing - always has been, always will.
Her latest awesome, amazing completed task - RAGNAR.
Last week she was with 11 running buddies, 2 vans and they ran 200-ish miles in 24 hours!
See what I mean? Amazing!
Sounds kind of fun, huh!
I wonder where the NW Relay will be in 2011?
Anyone interested?

UTAH - PART 3

We had some excited family members ready for the 5K.....
And it was so fun having a cheering section!
We had some uber fast family members who are very motivating!
We all did great and it was so much fun!

I COMPLETED MY FIRST 5K!

and I have good news, bad news and funny news....
Good news: My dad and sister and I did it together. I ran the entire time and didn't come in last.

There were just over 4000 participants this morning....

Bad news: Children were passing me - see photo as proof. I can walk faster than I can run. I can walk a 10 minute mile and I run a 12 minute mile. A side note, I'm not finished doing my couch to 5K training for the 5K in June in Utah with my cousins, and I really didn't think I could run it. I was planning on running 2 minutes and walking 90 seconds and I'm so glad I changed me mind. I'm really proud of myself.

As Amanda Bynes in She's The Man would say about my running - it's ooooooglay....

At our mile markers there were drink stations and music pumping us up, there was even this band on the course to help motivate us....

Just after the 2 mile marker there was a turn around and I saw dad and Steph as I was ready to take the off ramp up to our second bridge. It was hilarious that the guy in the 2nd photo thought I was taking a photo of him!

Dad finished in 49:13...

Steph finished in 52:10....

It was so much fun doing this 5K together! When we crossed the finish line they handed us roses and water...

And then they had a delicious breakfast waiting for us.

Funny news: My uber fast cousin finished a 10K last weekend in 40:35. I finished this 5K in 40:30. I'm ridiculously slow.
My goal for June is to do the 5K in 35 minutes....