Race Report: Grand Forks Marathon 2016

Friday, 09/23: Marathon Eve

The kids and I made an errands trip to drop-off/pick-up library books, stop at the auto parts store and pick up my race number and expo goodies. Besides a brief 3-year-old meltdown in the bathroom of the race expo, all went well.

The Grand Forks Marathon (a.k.a. Wild Hog) has some of my favorite "race swag". I have quite the collection of Fitsoks and drink glasses from the last few years! The marathon jacket is awesome and I hope they continue to have those for full marathoners in the future.


In an effort to eat something boring that wouldn't bother my stomach for race day, we picked up sandwiches at Subway for lunch and delivered one to daddy in the field.

We had a chill afternoon, I actually took a little nap with our youngest, and my parents arrived later that night to stay over. I slept so hard!!! It was wonderful... a million times better than our sleepless hotel experience before the Fargo Marathon.

Saturday, 09/24: Race Day

4:00 AM - After a decent night of sleep (youngest only woke once), I woke up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. The night prior I had set out all of my clothes, outfits for the kids, their snacks and all of my race stuff so the morning required very little thought. I made eggs and toast for Leo and myself along with a pot of coffee. My parents would stay with the kids and drive to the race later in the morning.

5:15 AM - Leo and I left for the race. He tried to sleep on the way down and I drove while drinking my coffee and bumpin' the radio tunes. Needless to say, he didn't get much rest because I can't quit talking. The roads were wet and the weather was misty but it certainly wasn't raining!

6:15 AM - We arrived at the race and they opened the doors to our warm up building. We wandered, of course I used the bathroom numerous times and we enjoyed our time being "just the two of us". Anytime without the kids in tow is a date, right?!


7:00 AM - I headed over to line up and Leo left to join up with my family. My original plan was to stick with the 3:35 group but my plan changed to start with the 3:25's and stick between those two pacing herds. The national anthems were sung and it was go time. (Ate Gel #1 prior to lining up)

7:15 AM - And we're off!!! I stuck close with the 3:25 group and resisted the urge to take off on fresh legs. Been there, done that... it certainly didn't work out well for me in Fargo!

I ran smarter this time and our group stuck together for the first 13 miles of the race. This was the best pace group I have ever ran with. People shifted positions as we encountered water stops, etc, but generally we all ran well together in a 3:25 mob. Running with people is so fun! (says the mostly solo runner)

Mile 1 - 7:42
Mile 2 - 7:43
Mile 3 - 7:45
Mile 4 - 7:44
Mile 5 - 7:43
Mile 6 - 7:43

The first few miles were on a wide open country highway with sugar beets growing on both sides. It was very windy out there and we spent many of those miles running into a headwind. I tried to keep a positive outlook and appreciated the fact that there were no beet trucks driving down the road yet. Starting October 1st, they will be everywhere!

We had a jaunt on wet gravel roads. My shoes acquired some gravel inside them but it felt good to get my legs a little dirty. That's the closest I've been to "trail running" in a loooong time.

Mile 7 - 7:41
Mile 8 - 7:44 (Gel #2)
Mile 9 - 7:40
Mile 10 - 7:47
Mile 11 - 7:40
Mile 12 - 7:50
Mile 13 - 7:37

Somewhere around the halfway point our pacers switched out (they were a relay team of 2). When our first guy left, our 3:25 herd fell apart! From then on, I lagged behind the new pace guy and occasionally had the company of one or two other marathoners.

On a couple stretches, we shared the road with some half marathoners and/or maybe 10k'ers. The company was nice but it was also a bit of a problem as they were walking in the middle of the road, unaware of the marathon groups trying to pass them.

My family was waiting for me around mile 15 and it was wonderful to see them! That definitely gave me an extra boost in motivation.


Mile 14 - 7:38
Mile 15 - 7:45
Mile 16 - 7:51 (Ate fruit snacks)
Mile 17 - 7:51
Mile 18 - 7:59
Mile 19 - 7:55

By now my breathing still felt easy but my legs... they were ON FIRE. Maybe it was the amount of up-and-down little hills that we ran or maybe I should have more diligently foam rolled before the race. Who knows. All I know is my quads were aflame.

Go ahead, all of you mountain runners can laugh at the North Dakotan "hills" :)

Mile 20 - 8:03 (Ate GU gel from aid station around this point)
Mile 21 - 8:16
Mile 22 - 8:12
Mile 23 - 8:10
Mile 24 - 8:14

Here's my mental breakdown. With only 2 miles left I wanted to walk. I told myself "I did not just run 24 miles to walk now"! I did make a compromise by walking through the aid stations and drinking a sports drink in search of a "sugar rush". Anything to keep my feet moving.

Many times, especially during the 20+ miles, I looked down at Isaiah 40:31 and found strength. Running seems like such a trivial thing (heck, I signed myself up for this marathon!) but this stands true especially for the marathon of life.

This is God's promise to us. Those who HOPE in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, run and not grow weary, walk and not be faint.

When He is our hope, we are unstoppable.


So I kept running. I will run and not grow weary. Relentless forward motion.

Finish it off with a sprint down the homestretch and, praise the Lord, I did not trip over my feet in front of all those people!!! (that's a fear of mine!)

Mile 25 - 8:30
Mile 26 - 8:04
.49 Mile - 7:09


I crossed the finish at 3:28:13, just a hair under that 3:30 goal I was hoping for.

They had an array of food lined up and I couldn't stomach the thought of eating anything at the moment. I met up with my family and friends shortly after and it was wonderful to see everyone! I love small-ish town races.

He doesn't get this whole marathon-running-for-fun thing, but he's still my biggest fan!

After sitting in the grass and stretching briefly, we went to find coffee and meet up with my mom, sis-in-law and the little boys. They were so well-behaved while I was gone!

The cool weather, cloud cover and no-show of the forecasted rain was perfect for this race. The wind was fine because that's the norm for North Dakota.

Another thing that went well in this race was that I never felt like I was starving! My body needs extra calories while I train/race because I'm still nursing our youngest and, thankfully, my stomach could handle my breakfast, the gels and sports drinks.

E racing Auntie Dbo! Photo Creds: My Mom

Overall, the Grand Forks Marathon went really well. It wasn't a PR but it was the best I could do that day! Turns out I placed 3rd Female Overall but totally spaced on sticking around for awards. Woops.
Finish Time - 03:28:13
Average Pace - 7:57/mile
Placing - Overall: 15th/239. Females: 3rd/92, AG: 2nd/23
Well, that's a wrap! Until my next race, that is... in 9 days.

Thank you all for your support, thank God for the health to run crazy distances and good luck to you all in upcoming races!


Linking up with Holly and Tricia's Weekly Wrap Up.

Peanut Power Bites with #MegaFood #MomsMeet

Getting the right amount of fruits and veggies in each day is tough. Add picky eating tendencies to the mix and mealtime can be a big headache!

Thankfully, our family isn't the only one with a picky eater and there are other sneakier ways to fit in key nutrients! Vitamins in tablet form are great for adults but what about children who have difficulty swallowing or resist taking a tableted multivitamin?

Meet MegaFood. They are a company committed to making products that use real food from family-owned farms to make a real difference, and have produced some of the most effective and award-winning supplements available today.

MegaFood has partnered with Kauai Organic Farms, Lundberg Family Farms, and Uncle Matt’s Organic to whip up kid-friendly powders that can be slipped into just about anything, making good nutrition just that much easier to swallow

As Moms Meet Ambassador, I was sent three different types of Kids Nutrient Booster Powders to explore:
Kids Daily Multi: Kids Daily Multi promotes well-being and healthy development, with organic turmeric, carrots, fresh fruits and 23 essential vitamins and minerals per serving.*

Kids Daily Immune: Kids Daily Immune, featuring oranges from Uncle Matt’s Organic and elderberry & echinacea, promotes and helps to strengthen a healthy immune response year round.*

Kids Daily B-Centered: Kids Daily B-Centered featuring Lundberg Family Farms organic brown rice, provides daily support for mental focus, cognitive function, and a sense of calmness.* Formulated with a full spectrum of FoodState® B Vitamins, this blend supports healthy mental and physical energy levels.*

These powders can be easily added to smoothies, pudding, shakes or no-bake treats. Mr. 3-Year-Old and I worked together to make these Peanut Power Bites using the Kids Daily Multi powder.


We added four scoops of the MegaFood Kids Daily Multi powder along with the rest of the power bite ingredients.


After refrigerating the mixture for 30 minutes, we rolled the dough into balls and they were ready to eat! Gotta love the ease of no-bakes!


These Peanut Power Bites are especially tasty when made with NuttZo's Peanut Pro Smooth nut butter!

MegaFood's Kids Daily Multi powder didn't have a strong taste and would be highly undetectable for any children to eat. You know how some kids have those "healthy food detectors" that go off at the taste/sight/smell of anything overly nutritious?

I can't speak for the long-term benefits for these powders but I will say they are loaded with nutrients and certainly don't spoil the flavor of whatever recipe they are thrown into.

What was disappointing is that these powders are for children five years of age and older (always read the fine print!) so, while Mr. 3-Year-Old did help me make these Power Bites, he couldn't taste-test them.

Don't worry, he got his own batch anyways!


Connect with MegaFood: megafood.com | facebook.com/MegaFoodFans | twitter.com/megafood | instagram.com/megafood

I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms Meet program (greenmomsmeet.com), May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agree to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of this product.


Training Week 12: I Made It!

This post in a nutshell: I'm still alive!

The 26.2 miles went great (actually, my watch said 26.49...?), it was an enjoyable experience until the last 6.2 miles, and I'm thoroughly enjoying not running today — or for the next week.

I crossed the finish in 3:28:13 and was ecstatic to run sub-3:30. It was a confidence booster after my struggle at the Fargo Marathon and a reminder that, yes, the marathon can be a fun distance to run.

Stay tuned. My race recap will be coming up next week!


And because all runners love a good "race bling" picture. The piece in the middle spins. It's pretty cool!


Did you race this weekend?
What has been your favorite race medal to receive?
(There are some crazy ones out there!)
.....

Wild Hog Marathon Training Week 12:


Monday, September 19

Rest.

Tuesday, September 20

Easy-Effort with double stroller: 4.01 mi, 00:37 @ 09:17 pace.

Wednesday, September 21

Speedwork: (Treadmill) 2.01 mi, 00:17 @ 08:15 pace. Last taper run!!!

WU.5 miles,
1 mile @7:22,
CD .5 mile.

Thursday, September 22

No running. Just lots of walking with the kids.

Friday, September 23

The kids and I ran errands in a neighboring town and picked up my race bib to save on time in the morning. Nice expo!

Saturday, September 24

Grand Forks Marathon: 26.49 mi, 03:28 @ 07:51 pace.

This race went well, the rain held off, and kids were content watching all of the runners with the rest of the family 😁My legs were extremely fatigued for the last half of the race but the rest of me felt great. Not sure why my legs got tired that soon... Official time: 3:28:13

Sunday, September 25

Recovery day!!!! Besides stiff legs, I'm feeling really well. Those hills get me every time!

Total Mileage: 32.51 miles


Linking up with Holly and Tricia's Weekly Wrap Up.

Photographs From The Edge with Art Wolfe {Book Review}


People of all ages appreciate beauty, whether it be a painting, classical music, photography or nature. My family has enjoyed paging through the beauty in Art Wolfe's book, Photographs from the Edge.

Wolfe's photographs take you on a journey across the world from mountain peaks and lava beds to indigenous tribes and wildlife. Wolfe and Sheppard share the story behind each photo along with information about the subject and photography tips.

Reading Blueberries for Sal (numerous times a day!) has spurred on our 3-year-old's fascination with bears. Lately we have been admiring all of Wolfe's bear pictures to learn more about the mother and cub that Sal encounters on her blueberry picking excursion. His wildlife pictures are absolutely amazing and the story behind each one makes them even better!


Photographs from the Edge is a breathtaking portfolio of Art Wolfe's work that takes you all over the world while sitting in your own living room. Beautiful work like this is timeless and can be enjoyed by all ages — even the toddlers!

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review. All opinions are my own. 

Training Week 11: Now For The Easy Part

Race week is HERE! Finally!!!

With only two more short runs left to go, training is nearly over and I feel a sense of accomplishment in that. I survived. And it was fun!

Racing should be the easy part, right? HA!!! Maybe "easy" isn't the right word. More so the short-term effort on race day feels much easier than the long term effort and dedication of 3 months of training.

As for the race, we'll just have to see what that day brings! Currently, the forecast is cool with scattered storms.

Do-able for running yet not so great for all of the farmers. (More rain?!)


Back to the weekend for a mini-recap.

We watched the full moon over our campfire with the neighbors on Saturday night. Then the sun returned with such radiant color on my Sunday morning 12-miler:


I could have used my sunglasses. It was SO bright!


The sky clouded over and the color scheme cooled off later in the run. It's amazing how much the sky changed over the time I was running.


And those wildflowers out on the gravel road... I took a picture of them so I can remember what plant life looks like when the snow is flying 2 to 3 months from now.


Race day goals? My only thoughts have been to stick with the 3:30 pace herd and to run much smarter than my last marathon. All in all, just have fun and then sleep in for the rest of my life after this.

I'm sure every toddler in the world is laughing at my goal of sleeping in :) 

.....

Wild Hog Marathon Training Week 11:


Monday, September 12

Rest.

Tuesday, September 13

Easy-Effort with double stroller: 6 mi, 00:56 @ 09:18 avg pace.

Wednesday, September 14

Speedwork: (Treadmill) 4.5 mi, 00:34 @ 07:31 avg pace.

WU,
2k @ 7:22/mile pace,
1 mile @ 7:01 pace,
1k @ 6:46 pace,
.5 mile @ 6:32 pace,
CD

Thursday, September 15

Strength: Planks

Friday, September 16

Tempo: 6.73 mi 00:53 07:53 pace WU, 2 x 2.75 miles @ 7:42, 7:36/mile, CD

Saturday, September 17

2-mile walk with E biking and pushing W in the trike/stroller thing. Then lawn-mowing and a campfire that evening!

Sunday, September 18

Long Run: 12.01 mi, 01:45 @ 08:44 pace.

Total Mileage: 29.24 miles


Linking up with Holly and Tricia's Weekly Wrap Up.

Supper With San-J #MomsMeet #SanJTamari

Over the summer I have been using my crockpot like crazy! I throw in the ingredients first thing in the morning, then the kids and I head outside and lunch is ready by the time we come back in.

I happened upon a fun new chicken and rice slow-cooker meal this week, Slow-cooker Mongolian Chicken, using San-J's Organic Tamari Gluten Free Soy Sauce.

All three of the Asian Sauces we tried had a rich, bold flavor, were easy to incorporate into any meal and are certified organic, gluten free, vegan, and Kosher.. San-J's sauces have a richer, milder and more complex taste due to the higher concentration of soy protein caused by fermenting for up to six months with Japanese brewing methods.


Now onto the meal...

Making our Slow-cooker Mongolian Chicken was a piece of cake!

I combined 4 chicken breasts, one can of cream o' chicken soup and a 1/2 cup of San-J's Mongolian Sauce. After allowing the chicken to cook on "High" for 2 hours, I added sliced orange & yellow bell peppers to the mix. The meal cooked for 2 more hours and was ready to go just in time for supper.

We served the chicken and peppers over white rice and added extra San-J's on top.


Along with the Mongolian Sauce, we also sampled San-J's Orange Sauce and Thai Peanut (which has a spicy kick!). All of the Asian Sauces were great for dipping, basically as a substitute for ketchup or other condiments.

I enjoyed the San-J Asian Sauces' rich taste and their variety of flavors available. The Mongolian Sauce was my personal favorite and I would love to try their Teriyaki in the future. Check out the San-J website for a full list of their products.

A 10 oz. bottle of San-J Organic Tamari Gluten Free Soy Sauce typically retails for around $4.45.

Connect with San-J: san-j.com | facebook.com/SanJTamari | twitter.com/SanJTamari

I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms Meet program (greenmomsmeet.com), May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agree to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of this product.


Brushing Up with Himalaya Botanique Complete Care Toothpaste #MomsMeet

One thing you likely don't know about me is that I'm a tooth-brushing fanatic.

I haven't always been. It all started during my second pregnancy when flossing and brushing my teeth were the only way to ease my morning sickness. (Well, that... and Chinese food.)

Now, knowing that random fact, imagine my excitement when I was approached with the opportunity to review an herbal formulation toothpaste!

Let me introduce you to Himalaya Botanique Complete Care Toothpaste:


What makes Himalaya Botanique's toothpaste different is that they use a blend of Neem, Pomegranate, Triphala and Xylitol to leave your mouth feeling fresh:
» Neem leaf, harvested from the ‘worlds most researched tree’ is history’s original housekeeper and works to keep the mouth clean.

» Pomegranate is an astringent fruit extract that helps support healthy looking gums by tightening the tissues.

» Triphala is a traditional detox formula in ancient Ayurveda composed of the three myrobalan fruits for clean teeth and a radiant smile.

» Not only is Xylitol a tooth-friendly sweetener, but it has also been clinically-studied to support good oral hygiene.
With regular brushing, Himalaya Botanique's herbal formulation helps to remove plaque, supports healthy-looking gums and maintains white teeth. The Whitening varieties use the enzymes in papaya and pineapple to help remove surface stains.

Plus, this toothpaste is free of a whole lot of things: Carrageen, SLS, Fluoride, and even Gluten (if you're into eating toothpaste, I suppose).


After trying each variety of Himalaya Botanique's toothpastes, I am impressed. Each of the flavors was pleasant and without any weird aftertaste. Because these products are flouride-free, they are safe for our toddler to use as well.

This was definitely the best Xylitol-containing toothpaste that I have tried. If you really want to know, the Cinnamon flavor is my favorite!

Himalaya Botanique Complete Care Toothpaste retails for $5.99.

Connect with Himalaya: himalayausa.com | facebook.com/HimalayaUSA | twitter.com/HimalayaUSA | instagram.com/HimalayaUSA

I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms Meet program (greenmomsmeet.com), May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agree to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of this product.


Training Week 10: Ready, Set, Taper

Here marks the end of the peak training phase... and the beginning of taper!

{Cue the Chariots of Fire theme song.}

I am so ready to take the next two weeks easy-ish! Tapering is a strange balance between resting but not taking it too easy so that my legs get sloppy. Personally, I struggle to find that balance. Last time, I under-rested and paid for it. This time I hope to taper "better".

The weekend's long run was like a DTR (determine the relationship) workout for my marathon goal pace: 2-mile warm up, 10 miles at marathon pace, and 2-mile cool down.

I was nervous about maintaining a 7:30-8:00/mile pace for 10 miles but it went really well. The relationship is determined indeed and my marathon pace goal feels realistic.

Now to make myself run smart and on-pace come race day!


We made a few excellent finds at the thrift store this week, two of them being Spiderman and Captain America suits! Costumes have been a hit for the kids lately. I think it would be hilarious to race in a costume someday but this Captain America one is a bit too snug to run down the street in :s

Mr. 3-Year-Old has all the right moves to be a superhero (notice his flexing in the picture below)! He is learning to memorize scripture now and when he recites James 1:19 it melts my heart: "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry."

The kids are growing up so fast, which is wonderful and scary at the same time. Time, please slow down just a tiny bit!


P.S. If you haven't already, run on over to my prAna outfit giveaway and enter to win. I would love for you to win a Ravena Top and pair of Kara Jeans. I love mine!


What is your favorite OR least favorite training workout?
Have you ran a race in a costume before?
.....

Wild Hog Marathon Training Week 10:


Monday, September 5

Rest.

Tuesday, September 6

Easy-Effort: 8.26 mi, 01:15 @ 09:03 pace.

Wednesday, September 7

Speedwork: 6.03 mi, 00:47 @ 07:50 avg pace. 6 x 800m @ 7:13, :11, 6:47, 6:59, 7:08, 6:55/mile pace with 2:00 min recovery jog between intervals.
Strength: 6 x 1:00 planks, leg raises and bridges.

Thursday, September 8

Off. The kids and I spent the night at Grandma and Grandpa's house and I got a filling replaced. Part of it broke off while I was singing bedtime songs on Sunday night. Who knew "Be Thou My Vision" could be so intense?!

Friday, September 9

Tempo with double stroller: 9.06 mi, 01:13 @ 08:05 pace. 2 x 4 miles @ 7:58, 8:01/mile with .5 mile recovery jog between intervals.

I did stop my watch about four times per the 3 yr old's request... graham crackers, sweater, more snacks, no sweater. Reminded me of the "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" book :) Both kids took short naps during the run and it was wonderful!

Saturday, September 10

Easy-Effort with double stroller: 4.4 mi, 00:42 @ 09:36 pace.

The littlest and I went out for a run before supper. The stroller pushes like a dream with 30 less lbs! Big brother helped daddy grill supper while we were gone 😁.

Sunday, September 11

Long Run: 14.01 mi, 01:52 @ 07:59 pace. WU, 10 miles @ 7:46/mile, CD.

Total Mileage: 41.76 miles


Linking up with Holly and Tricia's Weekly Wrap Up.

My Fashion Favorites with prAna #MMLovesPrana #MomsMeet

Believe it or not, I don't wear my running clothes every day!

I love a cute outfit but my attire needs to be capable of keeping up with two toddlers all day long. That means tree climbing, crawling around the floor playing "horsey", rolling down grassy hills, looking presentable while running errands, and who knows what else.

I was ecstatic to receive the opportunity to review prAna's Ravena Top and Kara Jean.  Since the arrival of my prAna outfit I haven't wanted to take it off! (Yes, I will wash it. Some day.)

Here are my thoughts on these two prAna pieces and stick around to WIN this outfit for yourself!


First off, have you heard of prAna before? Here's a little background:

The prAna mission is to inspire healthy, active, and free-spirited living.

We create versatile, stylish, and sustainable clothing and accessories that you can wear during every activity, every adventure, every day. How do we know? Because we base our designs on our own experiences. You see we’re more than makers, we’re doers—yogis, climbers, and world travelers—and we use our knowledge to make clothes that look good and play hard. We like to focus on the details, and aren’t afraid to go bold when it comes to colors and whimsical patterns. We love to combine classic style with modern materials, ever mindful of where and how our creations are made. (Source)
prAna designs the perfect stylish activewear because they are active individuals themselves. They totally "get" the active life!


About My Outfit


The Ravena Top is a burnout jersey knit top made up of 54% Recycled Poly and 46% Organic Cotton. I chose the Grey Indigo color and the bold, artistic pattern is just beautiful. I love how this cozy long-sleeve is perfect for wearing alone or layered up with a tank underneath or vest over top.

The Kara Jean is the BEST! Personally, buying jeans is scary because each brand has their own unique fit. My reaction to the Kara Jean is "Where have you been all my life?!"

These jeans have a tapered leg, slim fit and are 79% Organic Cotton. My absolute favorite part of the Kara Jean is the cuff on the bottom. Finding jeans that are long enough for my legs is difficult but these jeans adjust to fit any inseam! I chose the Indigo color and they are seriously my new favorite jeans. I can roll them up to wear with flats or roll them down to wear with heels.

Now It's Your Turn!


Enter below for a chance to win this prAna outfit for yourself:


a Rafflecopter giveaway
prAna is also generously offering this discount code “MMLPLLTR” for 15% off your order at prAna.com! This code is one-time use per customer and not valid for Influencers, on Gift Certificates or with any other offers. Valid thru October 31, 2016.

Connect with prAna: prAna.com | facebook.com/prAna | twitter.com/prAna | instagram.com/prAna

I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms Meet program (greenmomsmeet.com), May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agree to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of this product.

Linking up with Faith at Mommy Moments and Running with SD Mom & Erica Finds at the Wednesday Giveaway Round-Up.

Chase the Lion {Book Review}


Chase the Lion by Mark Batterson presents a bold message to step out in faith, off the path of least resistance, and to chase after God's calling on your life and the dreams He has placed on your heart.

This book has challenged me in my faith and encouraged me to press deeper into my relationship with the Lord and to dream big, God-sized dreams.

I know the Lord is able to do far abundantly more than I could ever even dream up - now it's time to live like it!
Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. EPHESIANS 3:20-21
I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review. All opinions are my own. 

Training Week 9: FroYo, Corn Maize and the Last 20-Miler

Well hello there! I hope you are doing something fun this Labor Day weekend!

My husband ended up getting Saturday, Sunday AND Labor Day off and we have been enjoying quality family time. It's been a wonderful break from harvest time!

Our Saturday family date included grocery gettin', finding a bigger carseat for W, a stop at Cherry Berry...


And a trip to the "Valley Corn Maize"!


We made our way through the maze, went on a tractor train ride and the kids played in a huge pit of corn kernels. It was a blast!

Early Sunday morning I ran my last 20-miler in training for the Wild Hog Marathon, making this a 51-mile week. It's been a great week and it is such a blessing to be healthy (no more colds here!) and together as a family!

We just watched the men's and women's Olympic Marathon races on my parents' DV-R (a bit after the fact) and I'm really looking forward to race day!

Check out the inaugural jackets for the full marathon finishers... Extra motivation to cross the finish :)

Image Source: www.gfmarathon.com

What is your absolute favorite ice cream or froyo?

.....

Wild Hog Marathon Training Week 9:


Monday, August 29

Strength: 6 x 1:00 planks, leg raises.

Tuesday, August 30

Easy-Effort: 7.04 mi, 01:05 @ 09:14 pace.

Wednesday, August 31

Speedwork with double stroller: 8.25 mi, 01:09 @ 08:18 pace.

Speedwork with the double stroller isn't ideal, and it near kills me every time, but it's better than skipping the workout altogether! I hope it makes me stronger for race day... 5 x 1 mile repeats @ 8:03, 7:52, 7:56, 8:05, 7:59 with 2:00 recovery jog in between.

Thursday, September 1

Strength: 6 x 1:00 planks.

Friday, September 2

Tempo: 9.21 mi, 1:13 2 x 4 miles @ 7:43, 7:54/mile with .5 mile recovery jog.

Tired and stiff muscles this morning. This run didn't feel the greatest but I made it!


Saturday, September 3

Easy-Effort: 6.11 mi, 00:51 @ 08:23 pace.

Sunday, September 4

Long Run: 20.42 mi, 2:54 @ 8:29/mile.

Thunderstorms were all over but nothing hit while I was running, praise the Lord! Just a light sprinkle occasionally and lightning and thunder in the distance.

Total Mileage: 51.03 miles


Linking up with Holly and Tricia's Weekly Wrap Up.