August – The Blacklight Run

While I am NOT a fan of “gimmicky” runs and typically prefer the regular “road runs” that start in the morning and end with bagels (and sometimes a mimosa), the girls really wanted to run The Blacklight Run for our August Run!  We signed up with BOTH of my sisters (Anna & Leah) and it was a great night full of GIRL POWER!  The run was in Sauget, Illinois – which is not the best area of town – but was held at the Gateway Grizzlies stadium. So we figured it was safe.  

We were instructed to get to the race early – so we got there almost 2 hours early and were greeted by a HUGE stage and a party that was going on before the race.  The DJs were throwing out tons of Blacklight Run SWAG for the race.  We of course used this time to hydrate, stretch, and relax!  YEAH RIGHT!  We danced, jumped, took photos, and enjoyed the great music.  It was a great night in East St. Louis!   You can’t see it in this photo – but my big head is covering the St. Louis Arch! 

Here are some photos of both my sister showing off their cheerleader moves before the race started!  We all obviously have a lot of energy.  NOTE – we did not have a single drink of alcohol. 

About 20 minutes before the race started they corralled us into these crazy fences and kept the music going.  In addition, they were giving out even more Blacklight Run Swag!  YES PLEASE!  The girls rocked at getting SWAG! 

We are all corralled and ready to start the race – but first – LET US TAKE A SELFIE!!!!! 

IN ALL HONESTY – the corral process at this race was pretty bad.  We waited over an hour in the corral with no bathroom or drinks while they let a group of runners/walkers lose every 15 minutes.  It was fine for the first 20 minutes – but we all were just standing there gradually moving up in line.  It was pretty poorly managed.  I have ran in much larger races than this and never did I experience such disorganization and frustration.  It got darker and darker though as we waited and we ended up with a Blacklight Run tutu, hat, glowsticks and gloves before the night was over.  Weirdest part of waiting in line was the smoker behind us – which I could not hold my tongue about, and the crazy lady that decided holding up sparklers while finally crossing the starting line was a good idea.  Again – I did not hold my tongue and my MAMA BEAR came roaring out of me.  Come on fellow runners – let’s just use our brains! 

The run was FUN and VERY DARK!  I turned my ankle pretty badly at the end of June and I was paranoid running in the pitch dark that I would turn it again.  In addition, it was a packed, super narrow course that weaved its way around a parking lot and down a path that is by the grizzlies stadium and I know I was a sight running so gingerly on it – tip toes the whole way! 

During the race, there were 4 or so stations that the runners were doused with different colors of powder that would glow under a black light and in those stations everyone would stop and take selfies!  SUPER FUN!  Who doesn’t like a selfie – while covered in colored powder! 

We all survived the race without any injuries and had a BLAST!  However, the biggest downfall of this race (aside from the unorganized corralling system) was that there was NO WATER after the race!  Not a single station, cup, bottle, or drop of water!  NONE!  I have never been to a race like that!  However, there were beer tents set up everywhere!  We were all exhausted and decided to head home.  Above are my girls powdered head to toe as we stopped to get a drink! 

I had so much fun with my girls and my sisters and I am so lucky that my girls have such great female role models in their lives. I truthfully feel very blessed they are able to have these relationships with all their aunts and grandmas. 

We truly are blessed!  Thanks Anna & Leah for running with us! 

Next Month, we are running in the “Trails for Tails” 5k in Old Town St. Charles with Jason and my brother Jesse and his wife, Angie!   We are running on TEAM SUPER BUDDIES!  FUN FUN FUN! 

July – I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas in July!

This was one of the most FUN (and hilly) 5k races we have ever ran!  It was in Jennings, MO at Koeneman Park, which is honestly one of the nicest parks we have ever been to!  Check out the beautiful gazebo and waterfall in the below photos!

The race started at 8 and it was almost 80 degrees at the start – but that didn’t matter to us – we were decked out in our Christmas headbands and ready to RUN!  The best part of the race is that my older sister, Anna, (older by 18 months) ran it with us.  She has gotten into running in the last year and it was her first 5k which  brought extra enthusiasm to the race.  We loved having her join us and of course she joined in on the headband action (who wouldn’t want to)!   The girls had their friend Maddie stay the night before the race – so we had our own personal cheering section.  Thanks Maddie – for coming along, taking photos for us and with us and of course – for wearing the holiday headband (again – who wouldn’t want to)!  She even wore my shirt to “look the part!”  We loved having her and she got up at 5:45 along with the girls and not one of them complained being tired!

Let’s start with the cool shirts – they are adorable (see above photo) and the thickest tshirts I have ever received from a race.  I cannot believe the girls wanted to wear them to run in (SO HOT) – but they love a theme and they are joiners!  When the race started, we ran through some fake snow from a snow machine – which was kind of fun – even though it melted very quickly.

This photo is the first of MANY hills during this race that my sister Anna and Hannah conquered (Kayla and I conquered them too).   On our way to the race, we realized we were going downhill a lot – which meant that there was a LOT of uphills!  This race seemed like it was gradual uphill after gradual uphill!  There were really no downhills until the last mile – when there were 2 downhills that were so steep – you had to take them slow!  In between the two downhills was yet another uphill!  It was crazy and we were HOT (despite the cool theme for the race).

 

After the race, we were shocked to find out that we TOTALLY ROCKED THIS RACE!  WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER!  The Green Gals (and sister/Aunt Anna) totally represented!  Hannah got first in her age group (Women Under 19) and Kayla got second.  Anna got second in her age group and I got third!   Kayla has been so sore (legs, back, etc) from 5+ hours of marching band practice lately – she was such a trooper and did so great!  I was so proud of her and her positive attitude despite her discomfort! 

I love this adventure that we are on and I enjoy the extra time with my girls.  Their cross country season starts on August 4th and high school starts shortly after (I cannot believe they will be Freshman – where does the time go?).  I am sure once school is in session, it will become even more hectic and crazy and I am so thankful for the time I have with my girls – as it seems more and more precious these days.

My whole family is joining in our adventure!  Next weekend for our August race, my little sister, Leah and again Anna are running with us for the “Blacklight Run,” which should be SUPER FUN!  In September, my brother Jesse and his wife Angie are running the “Trails for Tails 5k” which benefits Five Acres Animal Shelter in St. Charles.  I love that they are all so active and are such “joiners,” maybe that is where we get it!

I will leave you with this below photo of Anna and Hannah on the final hill of the race (this was reenacted on our way home – which explains the big smiles) – but they wanted it shown!  Also – here is a photo of Anna and I “posing” before the race and our little photobomber!  Thanks Hannah!   Now that is a HUGE HILL!   Thanks Anna for joining us!  LOVE YOU!

June – Run for Fun in the HOT HOT Sun!

This was the most hot and humid race I have ever ran in my life!  This race was in a small town just north of O’Fallon in Elsberry, MO.  There were other races this weekend – but when I talked it over with the girls – they were excited about the Dr. Seuss theme of this race.  So, we signed up and got on Amazon to buy Seuss hats!  The hats all looked super hot, so we decided upon the mini-hat/headband combo that was much cooler.  I also started looking for shirts, but then just decided to print iron-ons and get red shirts from Michaels.  I went the cheap route!

I think the outfits turned out pretty great!  We love a theme!  But who doesn’t?!?!?!?!

Hannah (Thing 1) had a fever and was not feeling that well on Thursday, and was still not feeling all that great on Saturday afternoon, but since we were already signed up for the race – she was a trooper and took 2 Advil and gave it her best!

When we got the race, we were greeted with the best reception of the nicest people running the race that you could ever imagine.  It is a super small race – which we loved!   You can tell by the home-made numbers that it was indeed VERY small.  We even got to pick our numbers.  The race organizers did a great job and had Dr. Seuss characters on all of the signs tell you which turns to take.  Thing 1, Thing 2, Cat in the Hat and others were on the bright neon signs that clearly showed us the way.  There were 2 water stations where they gave out COLD bottles of water – it was so nice!  We even got to run along the BEST street ever – GREEN STREET!  Or course we stopped for photos!

Kayla felt (and looked) super strong during the race, while Hannah struggled a little bit, since she was not feeling all that great!  She finished though and did it with a smile on her face.  We had a great run and a great finish by both girls.  Kayla got third overall, Hannah got fourth and I got fifth overall!  They were so excited that we each won a medal.  In addition, we got the “best costume” award – which was just an added bonus.

I always write how much I love photos of my girls after a run – cheeks all pink with color and looking so accomplished.  Well, this race was so hot that I admit – we waited a good 20 minutes before we took any photos so we could just cool down.  We were literally DRIPPING wet with sweat!  I also must admit that I complain about the heat and the weather WAY more than either of the girls did.

Here is a photo of us after we had cooled down a little bit.  On the way home, we cranked up the air in the car and stopped to get a gigantic soda!  Then we spent the afternoon being lazy at the pool!  All-in-all a great race and a great day!  I love my Thing 1 & Thing 2 so much and I enjoy all of our adventures.

May – Run Like a Mother!

Just a typical Mother’s Day!  I get to pick what we do ALL DAY LONG and my family happily (reluctantly) agrees to be part of my plan!  For 2 years now Jason and I have woke up early and ran in the RUN-LIKE-A-MOTHER 5k race in O’Fallon.  It is put on by on of our couple friends, is close to home and with great dri-fit shirts – this race is NOT one to miss!

However this year the girls planned to join us and use this race as part of our New Years Resolution!  FUN FUN!   There is nothing I love more than running with my family!  Before we left for the race Jason and the girls gave me one of my Mother’s Day gifts – a Road ID – which I really wanted/needed!  It has all my important information on it and Jason’s contact information – in case something ever happened while running.  He even put my Boston Qualifying time and a quote “There is NO Finish Line”  on it – which I truthfully believe in.  As long as my body will let me – I don’t plan to stop running!  As a side note – my other favorite quote is “I don’t jog” – but that is the “snarkier” side of me! VERY THOUGHTFUL GIRLS  AND HUSBAND!!

This photo is before the race and before we got all sweaty!  NOTE the super cool technical t-shirts.  Great color, great fit (and I love that there are separate women sizes)!

They had a cool pink firetruck from Wentzville Fire Department come to the race and of course we had to get our photos taken with the only pink fire truck with eyelashes!  Kayla (left) hates to have her hair messed up and would NOT put on the hat!  Hannah is a trooper and always ready for props to make a better photo/movie.

This year the course was moved a little South to St. Peters, and I loved the course even more.  We got to run on a paved trail, which was beautiful and serene (my favorite runs are on paved trails) and it was an easy out and back route.   The weather was great and even a little humid from the rain the night before.   The girls told me since it was Mother’s Day that I should run ahead and run my normal race pace!  So, I ran my normal race pace and so did Jason and the girls ran together.  They did great and pushed each other!  SO PROUD!

THE GREEN FAMILY REPRESENTED!!!  Kayla got third and Hannah got fourth in the under 21 age group.  Jason got third in his age group and I got second in my age group and third overall woman!  What a great race! 

Another great part of this race is that all the ladies/girls get flowers, they have a fun photobooth (which believe me – the girls took full advantage of)  and after the race there is O’Fallon Weach Beer  (one of my favorites – Wheat Peach Beer) and Mimosas!!  WIN WIN!  I love my sweaty little teenagers after a run!  They look totally exhausted – but at the same time – they look completely fulfilled and proud of themselves.  My heart feels so full when I see photos of them!

Here is a photo of my crew right after the run – note how sweaty and gross (and happy) we are!  This was one of the best Mother’s Days I have ever had.  I know I am supposed to be dreading and despising these teenage years – but so far, this has been my favorite age with my girls.  I love their sarcasm, their personalities and I think I have pretty awesome girls!  I cannot believe they will be in high school next year!  Time just flies!

“My cup runneth over” – I look at this photo and those words come to mind!  Thanks family for such a great Mother’s Day and for a great May Race! 

April Race #2 – That 80s Run!

It was a Thursday morning and I just got home from my daily run – when the girls get a text from their “bestie” (and fellow runner) Taylor asking if we are doing the 80’s run that Saturday.  So, before I even get my cup of coffee and English muffin – I am registering us three gals for “The Totally Awesome 80’s Run” that following Saturday.  It was a 5k and 10k race and I decided that since Taylor was running with the girls – that I would run the 10k and let the girls run together for the 5k.  Taylor’s younger sister, Nicole and her mom decided to run the race too!  We had great company and a great day!  Amazing weather – 60 degrees and sunny at race time and not a cloud in the sky!

On race morning – I “schooled” the girls on how to make a “OMG – 80s face” with your mouth wide open and tilted head to the side.  I also told them the importance of side ponytails in the 80’s and I reminisced on how I totally rocked them on a regular basis.

The race was at St. Charles County Community College (close to home) and started at 8AM – and we arrived at the same time as our friends and were able to go to the bathroom and get lined up just in time for the race!

Here is a great pic of all 4 girls – In order – Nicole, Hannah, Taylor and Kayla – Love the striped knee socks Taylor – you make me proud!  We normally like to “dress the part” of any theme – but at this race – they outdid themselves – with bright colors and sparkles – the Green Gals were out done!

The girls had a great race and more importantly had a blast with Taylor.  It was a great course and all around the small campus – twice – which gave me a lot of peace knowing they were safe.  The 10k course was hilly – and I finished in the top 10 overall women and felt great during it!  I love Spring & Fall for running!

Here are the girls are with the mascot of SCCC.  I am not sure what exactly the mascot is – but in true 80’s fashion – the girls were calling him “Hungry Like a Wolf.”  Again with the 80’s faces – and the students become the teacher!  I love it!

This race had one of the BEST swag bags I have ever received for a race!  We registered last minute – so the price was $30 per person (ouch) – but the tshirts are QUALITY shirts, super cute and the bags had a lot of fun stuff in them.  Best of all was the expo afterwards.  The girls got lots of free stuff and signed up for every possible promotion that was there (suckers).  I do admit – I gave away the XL shirt that Hannah picked up – even though she was so cute and jumped up and down like she just won the “Showcase Showdown” on The Price is Right when she got it!  I also gave away the cheapy water bottles – but did leave with at least 10 extra coozies!  Anyone who knows me – knows that coozies are my favorite – and I am like a girlscout and always prepared with coozies for me and extras!

Oh yeah – and there was a photo-booth at the race – who doesn’t love a photo-booth!

In addition, our swag bags came with raffle tickets that you could put in to win baskets full of goodies!  However, the kicker is – you have to stay until the end of all the races (even the kids fun runs) to win!  It was a great day out and we had no plans – so we hung out on the campus and waited – and I am glad we did – we won the first basket of the day!  It had a movie in it (Uncle Buck & The Great Outdoors combo) and giftcards to a lot of local merchants along with a new frisbee and nice water bottles.   It was great!  Now I was jumping up and down like I just won “The Showcase Showdown!”

Last but not least – SCCC was founded in 1987 and so they gave a prize to the 87th runner that crossed the finish line – and look who that was – KAYLA!  We should have bought a lottery ticket that day!  Kayla with “Hungry Like a Wolf,” the mascot – I think she won a car wash – I need one!!

What a great race day with amazing friends – I couldn’t hand-pick better gals for my girls to be friends with!

 

April – The Graffiti Run!!!

In April we embarked on something that I never thought I would do – a gimmicky 5k graffiti color run!  However, when you have 2 teenagers as part of your team – gimmicks are cool and I folded!  Despite my original skepticism, I must admit, this was a super fun run and for the first time since we started this blog, it was a nice warm morning (even though it was super windy and called for rain)!  60 degrees – after our miserably cold winter – we will take it!

Everyone knows I love a bargain and some may even call me cheap – well if you are cheap (or just love a bargain) – this race was for you!  It originally cost $25 per person – but with the Facebook 50% off coupon code – I was able to get all 4 of us signed up for under $60!  BARGAIN!

As part of the bargain- our SUPER COOl swag bags included the coolest circa 1980s sweatbands (which we ALL proudly rocked the entire course and I admit I have worn since).   They also included tshirts and a bag of colored cornstarch to open and throw all over everyone at the start line!  If that is not a recipe or fun – I don’t know what is!

WE LOVE THE HEADBANDS!  Me and my gals before the race with our white shirts!

The race took place at Gateway Raceway – which is a NASCAR track on the Illinois side of St. Louis.  Not the easiest place to get to from our house – but how often do you get to run at a NASCAR racetrack!  There were a lot of people in the race (which they call a race – but it is really more of a “fun run” as it is not timed) and it was broken up into 2 different “heats.”  Luckily, we were in the first heat and managed to get there are parked about 20 minutes before – just in time to use the bathroom and get covered in GRAFFITI!!!  If you are a type A person, much like myself, than just be sure to bring your GPS watch!   During the course of the race – we ran through different “color stations” where they would throw even more colored powder on you.  The girls loved it – while the adult in me held my breath and covered my glasses as we ran past those stations!

I love this comparison my girls did as a “before and after” to the race and I love their sweaty accomplished faces in the after pic!  I am so proud of all that they are now and all they are becoming as young ladies!

We managed to get to the car just as the clouds opened and dumped on everyone!  There is not anywhere on earth or anyone I would rather spend my Sunday mornings with – than Jason and my two lovely ladies!   I am one very lucky gal!

March – Taste of Achievement 6k!

March was a tricky month to find a reasonably priced 5k that wasn’t an hour from our house.  While there are a lot of races around St. Patrick’s Day – many of them are 5 mile or 10k, or start too early when really all we want is to for St. Patty’s day is see the parade – and skip the race!!

As the end of March grew close – we needed to pick a race!  We chose the “Taste of Achievement 6k” that supports the St. Louis Dietetics Association.  The best part about this race is that it is at Creve Coeur Park in St. Louis County and is pretty close to home.  This park is super flat, has 2 lakes and a paved trail around one lake and a partial paved trail around the other (6k is the distance around one of the lakes) .  In addition, there is a boathouse and The St. Louis Rowing Club is located there, so there are always “crew” boats on the lake – which is fun to watch.  However, for the girls (and me too), the best part about this race and the lake was that there were DOGS that they could “ooh and ahh” over the whole time.  Swimming dogs are the cutest!

The weather was amazing and it didn’t start until 10 AM – which my teenagers LOVED!  Even though we look like we are all bundled up – we quickly shed our jackets as the race started.

The great weather and flat course lead to a FUN run for a good cause.  Afterwards, they had great snacks including apples, fig bars, granola bars and gave away a little book on healthy recipes.  I love my girls sweaty post run smiles.  I think they get the runners high like I do!  They are always in the best mood after runs (but who isn’t)!

  April brings our Graffiti Run – a wild and crazy colorful run!  Can’t wait! 

February – Fun, Flirty & Fabulous 5k!

Despite our lack of keeping everyone up to date about our races, we are still going strong and running a 5k every month!  For the month of February – the girls and I signed up for the Fun, Flirty & Fabulous 5K.   We had a blast with this race!

While it was again, SUPER COLD (after all, it is February in the midwest) – we had so much fun!  Our good friend Chris Swim and her daughter Jessica joined us for this race – which always makes it more fun!   THANK YOU SWIMS!

My girls are always up for a theme – and decided to wear their GIRL POWER and SUPER GIRL capes for this race!  They were a hit and they got a lot of comments from ladies about their awesome attire!  I love that they go along with all my silly ideas still – despite being teenagers!   The best part of this race is that I got the cutest, black, long sleeve technical t-shirt with such a fun pattern!  #1 Race Shirt EVER!

We all 3 even ran in the shirt!  TWINSIES – or TRIPLETSIES I guess!

Before the race, there was a FUN photo booth – where there were signs, boas, and all kinds of fun things to dress up with!  In addition to the photo booth – they had a little stage and a group of VERY energetic gals who kept us all warm by doing JAZZERCISE!  They had so much energy and we all loved the jumping, clapping and woohoo-ing!   It was great (even though I am known for being SUPER uncoordinated)!

The race was a great course in Forest Park (which is my favorite place to train for my runs) and was a 5k and a 5 mile race.  The 5 mile runners took off at 9AM and the 5k runners Jazzercised for 10 more minutes and took off at 9:10.  I love Forest Park and readers that live in the St. Louis area – you need to run there!  There are hills, great paths and beautiful trees!  A little bit of trivia, Forest Park is much bigger than Central Park (just less famous) – I love running there and I felt safe letting Hannah run ahead and meeting her at the Finish line.

The actual race was fun – even though we had to weave between ice and snow on the path –  and while none of us got a PR – we had fun and chatted the whole time. The best thing about the race was the CUPCAKE trust afterwards – YES PLEASE!  Of course I don’t have a photo of that – as I was too busy EATING cupcakes!  YUM!  All-in-all a great run and I hope we run this race again!

I love that I have the opportunity to do this with my girls and I feel so lucky to be on this adventure with my young ladies!  Below is a pic of my gals after the race.  I love those sweaty little pink cheeks!

Coldest Race EVER!

This blog is really all about running with my girls and our adventures in different 5k races.  However, there is a new bridge in  St. Louis that crosses the Mississippi River that opened and I really wanted to run in the 6k run that crossed the bridge before it even opened to the public.

The Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge is beautiful and is nicknamed the “Stan Span.”  I learned that it is a 6k because the great Stan Musial was number 6 (I was curious why it wasn’t the usual 5k or 10k distances).   The new bridge connects St. Louis, MO into St. Clair County, IL and is AMAZING!  The bridge was built between April 19, 2010, and July 2013, the bridge opened on February 9, 2014.

I got the email announcing the race from Big River Race Management and immediately thought it would be a SUPER FUN race!  I somehow forgot it was in February and I would be FREEZING!  For those that know me, I LOVE the weather when it is nice – but I am a wimp in cold temps!   Anything under 30 degrees with any sort of wind and I am treadmill bound!  That said, I signed up and got my good pal Doug who I work with to sign up also!

The morning of the race was FREEZING and we got a couple inches of new snow that morning to run on!  The race and slick with ice and snow and SINGLE DIGITS!!!   You couldn’t really run with all the ice and snow – but we stopped and took photos and it was amazing!

All in all, it was a fun race and even though I couldn’t feel my toes or fingers for over half the race – it was super fun and I am glad that I ran it!   It  was my first “6k” race and was literally a “once in a lifetime” race over a new bridge and a great idea!

January 1 – Commitment Day!

When looking through my new “Runner’s High” Daily calendar, I saw that on January 1st, the inspirational quote is “The person who starts the race is not the same person who ends the race.”  What a great quote for a COLD January 1st Commitment Day 5k! 

The girls’ friend Taylor (fellow cross-country runner) decided that on New Years Day, she would get up early and run the race with us!  I love that they have such good friends who are also interested in RUNNING!  After all, everything is more fun when a FRIEND is with you!

I love that Before the race – I had sleepy and cold girls (who can always muster up a smile for a camera phone), during the race, I had strong runners with a lot of enthusiasm (I love how they are running in sync with their feet AND their hair), and after the race, I had proud and energized teenagers!  I loved seeing the transition and I love the energy these girls bring to the race!

The girls would cheer and yell out the mile numbers as they passed each of the mile markers!  They were so supportive of all the “faster” runners that were past the turn around point and on their way back to the finish.  When the first girl runner passed us on her return – we all screamed and yelled for her with amazing GIRL POWER!  I loved it!  I love the feeling I get after a race and with the smiles on these girls faces – it is obvious they do too!

It was a windy 35 degrees at race time which wasn’t until 10 AM – which was a nice late start – but brrr – chilly!  While I was in the line for the pre-race bathroom, I learned this year was beautiful compared to the snow on the ground and single digit temps of last year!  So I am not complaining!

All in all, this was a great run and I hope to do it again next year.  LIFETIME FITNESS is the major sponsor of the Nationwide Commitment Day races and has a great philosophy about getting kids off the couch and moving!  In fact, for all of the Commitment Day races across the nation,  all runners under age 18 are FREE to enter and get a t-shirt – all you have to do is sign them up!  This was great and saved me lots of $$ right after Christmas!

We are one month down and the girls and I are more pumped than ever about this endeavor!

With my lofty goals for 2014, I should ask, what are you doing in 2014 to change up your life?  In addition to this blog with the girls, I personally want to PR for a half marathon (current PR is 1:42:) and stay physically fit in hopes I will registered for Boston 2015!