Got Tshirts?!

First I have to say that ummmm, baby #3 is, how do I say this? She's killing me! I mean not literally but she's really taking her toll on me. The contractions, the sleeplessness, the not being able to eat, the pelvic pressure, the not even being able to lay down are all starting to add up. 12 more weeks or there about seems soooo endless right now. I mean I know it isn't much time at all but oh my I can't stand being in my skin right now. Friday night I finally had enough. I cried and cried and cried and cried some more. I can't form complete thoughts and have found myself reading comments to friends on Facebook I apparently wrote that don't make sense and I don't even remember writing. (In fact I'm writing this blog again after losing the first draft and I'm positive this draft isn't nearly as funny and put together as the first). Anyway, because of the exhaustion and the constant feeling of being sick I've been slacking on my blog fest goals. So no more, tonight I will write and if you can stand my senseless rambles, incomplete thoughts and very meek attempts at humor then can we please be best friends? 

Ok now on to the real subject. Tshirts, race tshirts. We all have them even covet them but do we wear them? I mean, in all honesty are they even functional for you? Or are you like me? You hoard them, collect them, and pile them into a gain mountain of I'm never ever going to wear them. Half the time they do not even fit me. The unisex cotton shirt at best has been used as a night shirt in my house. Occasionally, I've gotten some tech shirts and well I have worn some of them but the fit isn't really ever right since it's always in men's sizing. 

Recently, I was contacted by an organization called Get It Going who is launching a kick start campaign for better race shirts. They asked that I take a survey with my thoughts on the race shirt. Their goal is to have a catalogue if you will, of better quality, made in the USA race shirts that Race Directors can go to when picking out shirts for their races. 

I sort of thought this was a genius idea. I mean after all I USED to have a mountain. A HUGE  mountain of unwearable shirts that I refused to get rid of. What you ask did I do with it? Did I finally break down and without another thought throw them out? Donate them? Use them as paint rags? Well, no. These shirts although unworn meant something to me. They held memories of PRs and first races, of new distances and never before dreamed goals finished. So, I had them made into a tshirt quilt. I now keep it on the couch and it's my go to, make me feel better, snuggle upper. 

What do you do with your shirts? Do you wear them? Toss them? Collect them? Not take them? What do you think of this campaign Get It Going has started? Would you be willing to take the survey? 

Race Quilt! 

My feel better, makes me happy, go to snuggle upper: 

Swirling

Being someone who most definitely doesn't look like a runner, or come anywhere, ANYWHERE close to having that lean runner's body I've always just managed to find running gear here and there and have no preference. I wore shorts from Old Navy and tanks from Target.  I found a long sleeve tech shirt at TJ Maxx and it was ok, it got the job done. 

All of this ALL of this changed however, when I discovered something within the running community. I discovered a new line of running gear. It wasn't the controversial Lulumon who seemed to only have one size that didn't even come close to being comfortable for me to run in. It wasn't any of the gear sold in my local running store either. It was a company created by a woman who wanted something that would fit WOMEN. All women and be comfortable and functional. Going from the gym to the juice bar to the school yard. 

I had discovered Swirlgear. The form, the fit and the function of it had yet to top anything I've ever tried. I spent days in my gear, sometimes even forgoing a washing so I could wear it one more time on a run. I discovered a brand, I without a doubt was going to be loyal too. The fit was long and perfect. It moved with me, and breathed. It kept me warm AND dry out there in my -24 degree running nights. In the snow, sleet and freezing rain. Now that it's spring, I've switched to just one swirl layer and it's perfect! Whether I'm in the long sleeve, long sleeve hoodie (my absolute favorite piece) the tank, or the jacket I enjoy, actually enjoy, running in it. Not to mention the most wickedly awesome capris from the new line I have on order!!!! I go from a run to the school pick up line and I feel no need to change my Swirlgear it's so stylish and comfortable! On the weekends I find myself in jeans and a Swirlgear top because I love them so much :). 

Want to know the best thing ever? Right now with the code Friends50 YOU can get 50% off your Swirlgear order!!!! It counts for both the current line and the new line that is getting ready to start shipping out!!!! All you have to do is remember to just tell me if you ordered using the code!!!! Check it out here at www.swirlgear.com I promise you, you won't be sorry!!! The code is good from now until April 7, 2014. 

Pink Swirlgear Hoodie base layer:

Announcing the expectancy of Sugar Plum:

Hoodie and jacket! 

Rocking a tank:

In action: 

Lounging: 

Long sleeve vintage (with baby bump) 

New line!!!! Can't wait til these arrive!!

Taking a Bite

Wow. I did it. I opened the blogger app and started putting words down again. It's been awhile. A loooooonnnnngggggg while since I've been here. Free to write what I have been thinking, feeling, doing. I have this tendency to avoid. I avoid confrontation, anxiety, problems and feelings. And when I write I can no longer avoid so I avoid writing. I miss it yet I avoid it. Recently, however, I made myself a goal. A goal that's not completely about running, yet it is. And in order to go for it then I have to go for it here too. I have to grow my blog and my audience before I even have a chance for what I want. And it's scary. Super scary. 

I've been feeling off lately and well in my running world the word failure keeps creeping in. My body is changing, my running is changing and while it's all for the best and I'm super happy about it I also feel really down and out and well not me. I'm losing a piece of who I am while I'm growing someone else. I am struging with the fact that after just starting to call myself a runner I now feel like a fraud and like I'm well not anymore. I busted my ass to get to where I was mentally and physically and it's really hard to sit back and have it change so quickly again in the opposite direction. I WANT to go out and run 6 miles yet I just can NOT do it right now. And accepting that is hard. Super hard. So I've been absent and I've been surface living, afraid to dig deep and see what I may find. 

Anyway, I digress. I need to come back and I need to write in order to go for something I never thought I would have a chance at. In fact, the chance is nearly impossible and highly unlikely but I'm going for it anyway. Why? Because, a chance is a chance and always needs to be taken in order to actually maybe achieve it. 

So here I am. I'm back and probably not making much sense. My thoughts are all jumbled as I sort through my feelings. So I leave you with this. 

As I fought all day with myself about what I was going to write tonight. What would be good? What would my readers (who are yet to appear) want? I used all sorts of avoiding tactics, laundry, kids, yoga and even concocting energy bites in order to try to get some sort of food in me. (Sugar Plum hates when I eat lately and I pay for it so I've been living on smoothies and breakfast alone). I decided that those energy bites were actually very tasty and fun to make with the kids. So why not start there. I hope you enjoy them, or try them. They were so easy and a huge hit with my two year old who fought Crazy Daddy off for the last one. 

Five ingredients is all you need:

2/3 cups of nut butter (we used sun butter)

2 tablespoons of honey

1 1/2 plus 2 tablespoons of old fashioned oats

1/4 cup of milled flax seed 

1/4 cup of mini chocolate chips 

(I also threw in a dash of salt and a dash of cinnamon) 

Melt nut butter and honey in microwave in 10 second increments until melted. Stirring between each 10 second time. Mix oats, flax seed and chocolate chips in a bowl. (Add salt and cinnamon if you want)  Pour in melted nut butter and mix together. Roll into balls. Store in an air tight container. Easy simple and oh so yummy!!!! 

You can fool around with more or less oats or adding coconut or whatever. It's fun! 

Let me know if you give it a try! 

It's the little things

Tonight's thanks goes out to my baby girl.  My little mini who is about to turn 5! *GASP* I am about to be mom to a 5 year old?  Although, tonight as we stole away from the boys (who are always super stinky) and headed out to a dinner date it was hard to believe I was sitting with a 5 year old and not a 15 year old.  That child is so so SO mature for her age and the wisdom that comes out of her mouth often times has ME stopping and reflecting and changing the way I was thinking.  

As we filled up on some vegetarian Mexican food and talked running, yes we talked running and made some more in the near future dates that includes running the neighborhood each pushing our babies, I just couldn't help but feel the overwhelming joy of being her mom.  I am forever grateful for God for putting this special soul in our lives.  

So thank YOU my little Peanut Butter Bean Pie Princess Baby Girl (you used to make me call you this, back in the sass of your 2 year old self).  Thank you for being YOU.  Thank you for laughing, for caring, for investigating.  Thank you for making me see the world differently.  Thank you for being there when mommy just needs someone special to talk to, listen to and love on.  I will always ALWAYS love you to the moon and back and more than my running shoes :) 

Saving Grace

There is no doubt about it.  One of my FAVORITE things I have ever gotten out of my Facebook page is the advice on a sports bra.  A bit back I post a waaaaay tmi post asking about sports bras and the support (hardy har har!!!!) was unbelievable.

I have always been a larger chested runner, in fact even after losing 103 pounds I was STILL using 3, yes THREE, bras to run in.  I was getting so hot and so tired of layering up as the weather was getting warmer and warmer that I sucked up my embarrassment and posted for all to see.  And the clear winner was a sports bra by Moving Comfort.  And OH. MY. WORD!!!! That bra is AMAZING.  I now only need ONE yes ONE ONE ONE bra to run in and it is oh so freeing!!!

So thank you to Moving Comfort for making such an awesome product!!! You most certainly know what some runners need :0)

BOB is the MAN!

Oh how I could go on and on and ON about things I am thankful for.  I am really extremely blessed with lots of beautiful gifts, love, life, health, family.  But today's post goes to BOB.

Yep, BOB.  Oh how I LOVE BOB.  I would seriously marry him if I didn't already have my soul mate tied down and well he was a human and not a stroller ;)

I seriously, am so thankful that I have a BOB Duallie (I would SO LOVE LOVE LOVE to do a review for this company!!!!), I bought him used off a Facebook yard sale site a few years back.  I think he is circa 2003 or something like that, but oh my gosh is that stroller still AWESOME!!!!

It allows me to take my loves out to do what I love doing.  My little family runs are the best kind.  We sing, we talk and we nature hunt for all sorts of fun things; pumpkins, red leaves, chipmunks, horses, this list goes on.  I get to do these fun mommy things WHILE I am running.  Its really a double bonus, winner winner chicken dinner!!!! The best part of it is that my little cheerleaders are cheering me the WHOLE way!  Nothing is better than those little voices telling Mommy she is awesome, and running so super fast!

So BOB thank you! Thank you for being there for me and carrying my precious cargo with ease as I push ever so slightly on the handle as I run down the road.  You, dear stroller, are AMAZING!

November Blessings

It's November!!!! Race season is coming to a close and the weather is turning cold and dreary.  The beauty of the fall has passed and everyone is getting ready to hunker down and enjoy some cozy and warm family time.  I have brought down my running layers and have started transitioning into my cold weather running.

November also brings Thanksgiving and tends to be the month where blessings are counted.  I have unfortunately been in a funk.  I hate being in funks, and my running is NOT helping.  I have been having bad run after bad run and it's getting me down.  So, I have decided to keep my chin up buttercup and use November to put things into perspective.  Each day in the month of November I will blog about something I am thankful for.  I have so many blessings in life, that this funk is not going to last long if I can pull them into the forefront and kick the bad attitude to the side!!!

Today I am thankful for the running community.  WOW, what an amazing group of people runners are.  Friends are made over the sole fact that you are runners.  Support is given whole heartily, inspiration, motivation and care is given without a second thought.  Last night, I let it be known over on Crazy Mama Runner's Facebook page that I was struggling and the comments of encouragement has just poured in.  I have made so many wonderful new friends that I hope to race with someday!!! All around the world I am now connected to this group of runners and it is AMAZING!!! I love reading about their PRs and goals, their training and struggles.  We are all there to hold each other up and help become who we are meant to be.  I truly TRULY am so thankful for this support group!

Happy Running!!!