Thanks for all your birthday wishes! I had a really full weekend with lots of things going on – a group virtual race, a fitness blogger brunch, rock climbing, and more!
On Friday, I woke up and started the day with my kids fighting over television shows and breakfast options, but then they realized it’s mommy’s birthday and we should act a little nicer. So they did. I went on my traditional birthday run – 4.2 miles for my 42nd birthday! I had thought about taking a kid in a stroller, but it was actually kind of chilly and rainy so I thought – why not have a solo run on my birthday?
Side note – how cool is it that my daughter is old enough to take pictures with a steady hand? I’ve never done a jumping shot like this unless it was part of a group so thanks to S for being my photographer!
The rest of the day was spent at work. Lots of meetings, conference calls, and all that fun stuff. On the way home from work, I stopped at Fleet Feet Sports and Party City to prep things for the Moms Run This Town summer virtual race. I brought in the supplies, put the boys to bed, and my daughter and I got set up to stuff goodie bags for the MRTT race. I dashed out to the grocery store to get the food supplies for the run/race, and then we got to work putting everything together.
The result?
On Saturday, it was virtual race time! I got up early and drove over to the park to run the route and mark it out with sidewalk chalk.
But SURPRISE! The gates were closed to the park.
I parked in a lot outside the park and ran down to where we start our group runs, and started my journey on the 5K route. It was all going great until I got to the end and came up with only 3 miles, not 3.1. So I added a little loop where the kids would be in the middle cheering on the moms, and it all worked out smoothly. But this all took way longer than I expected to get the route marked, and I had to drive back home, get my kids ready to go, and get back to the park to set up!
We had a 1/4 mile kids’ fun run, then the moms ran the 5K route while the kids stayed behind with me and decorated the finish line with sidewalk chalk, blew bubbles, went on trips to the bathroom, ate snacks, and ran around. My former au pair and my mom were there to help me since I was coordinating a lot with my 3 kids under foot, so that was awesome.
I gave out the medals and goodie bags, did a raffle drawing and bestowed prizes on mother runners, and then cleaned up.
I absolutely loved this whole event with my Moms Run This Town chapter. Seeing the awesome ladies running and crossing the finish line with kids cheering them on was incredible! And everyone was having such a great time – it was so fun!!!
When I got home from the virtual race, I showered quickly and headed to downtown DC for the Fitness Blogger Brunch that I co-hosted with Mar and Courtney! Truthfully they did the organizing, and for that I am forever grateful. It was a really crazy day for me organizing the virtual race that morning, so they really rocked it with the brunch. We went to Matchbox in DC and it was fantastic – we had a super awesome waiter and the food was delicious. It was so fun to get to know some new bloggers, and get to know others a little bit better.
Top photo left/bottom row: Bri from Bretagey, Chaitali from Running & Enjoying, me, Lauren from Breathe Deeply & Smile, Sue from This Mama Runs for Cupcakes, and Mar from Mar on the Run. Right/upper row: Anna from Petite Runner Mom, Colleen from Live Free and Run, Kylie from KylieMcgraw, Sharita from Get Fit Like That, Courtney from Eat Pray Run DC, Diatta from Femme Fitale Fit Club, Courtenay from Running w/Perseverance, and Alexis from Flecks of Lex. Go check them all out!
Bottom photos are of my cinnamon bun and mimosa (oh yeah!) and Mar, me and Courtney of course!
It was my second time hanging out with Sue and Colleen that week – we had just been at the Chelsea Collective pre-opening launch earlier that week!
We also gave people raffle prizes – this was the second time in one day I gave people prizes, and that was so much fun! Thanks to all the great companies who donated prize items: Rove Living, Zengo Cycle, South Block Juice Co., Corner Bakery, Bright Life Go, Pure Barre DC, Bowl’d, SOAS Racing and SOS Rehydrate.
I got home from the virtual race and blogger brunch and wanted to crash, but instead took the older two kids school supply shopping. Then we got takeout and relaxed for the evening after the kids were in bed!
On Sunday, I had a great day! My husband’s birthday is next weekend (welcome to 40, Jon!) and we always celebrate the weekend between our birthdays. We usually just go out to dinner, but we were kid-free, so we went indoor rock climbing at Earth Treks. We had been wanting to do this for months and had bid on passes at the kids’ school silent auction, so we were excited to finally go!
I won’t lie and pretend to be a badass, I wasn’t that good at it! I went part way up the intro/beginner climbing wall and came back down. I was remembering 20 years ago on a camping trip in college, which was the last time I was rock climbing. I was stuck on a rock face, paralyzed with panic, unable to find a place to put my foot next, and having zero upper body strength. So I had them lower me back down. And you know what? That was fine. I realized that I couldn’t fall because I was harnessed in, I have better strength and am in better shape now, and I could really do this. I could conquer it.
On my next try, I went all the way up a beginner wall.
And on the next try, I went all the way up a wall that was a little harder.
And on my last try, I went up an even harder wall.
Right after this picture was taken, I had some trouble getting over that ledge area, but I took a break, sat back in the harness, and almost had them lower me down. But instead? Instead I gave it another shot. I had to use a foothold that wasn’t marked in the color for my course, but I kept going and made it to the top!
I was so happy to conquer the challenge and stick with it! Meanwhile, my husband practically scrambled up the rock wall at lightning speed each time.
We went to Starbucks, then out to dinner.
Then we tried to find somewhere to go for a drink and ended up in a totally kitschy margarita place.
After that we impulsively went to a movie. We never go to movies and I was dying to see Mission Impossible Rogue Nation. It was so strange to be kid free and not rushing back home!
Now it’s a new week and I hope for my training to be back on track after last week. With my husband away most of the week, I couldn’t get to swimming or track. This weekend is Iron Girl Columbia and I cannot wait!!!
What was your favorite part about the weekend?
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