Fitness Friday: Spring Break Fun! #anothermotherrunner

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Do you know the wonderful Mother Runners behind Another Mother Runner, Sarah and Dimity?  If not, you MUST go follow their blog, find them on Twitter, visit on Facebook, etc, etc.  You get the idea.  I've loved their podcasts, used elements of their Train Like a Mother plans for a couple of my races and their support to the Mother Runner community is outstanding.  Plus, they're pretty freaking funny.

These lovely ladies have asked me to help out at a couple race expos this year for AMR and I couldn't be more excited.  If you are running the Gazelle Girl Half Marathon or 5k in Grand Rapids, Michigan this April, you must stop by their booth and say "hi" to me.  I'll let you know where I'm going to be for the 2nd expo once the details are ironed out.

When I saw their Another Mother Runner 2014 Party Schedule, I about fell out of my chair.  They are going to be in Charleston, SC while I'm there for spring break!!! I actually get to meet these two the week before Gazelle Girl - it really must be fate!

So, if you are in the Charleston area, please sign up to attend the party on April 8th.  I'd love to meet even more awesome Mother Runners.  Also, if you know of any great running routes there, I need to get in a few training runs because it looks like I'm going to be running a half marathon this summer!  More on that later :)

Happy Friday, friends!  

Cheers!

Thankful Thursday: runner meet ups!

If there's one benefit to this little thing called social media, it's the opportunity to connect with people you wouldn't normally get to know.

This week I got to meet three of my favorite tweeps, Mike, Lani and Betsy! Lani is originally from Michigan and was passing through on her way home from spending time with her family and suggested a meet up. Mike and Betsy are in the Detroit area, so we figured just east of Lansing was a nice mid-point.  I made the drive over toward the east side of the state to a cute park where we had a little picnic and talked running while Lani's kids played on the playground.  Betsy is the queen of the mud run and tough mudders, Mike is training for his first full marathon (Chicago), and Lani is going Dopey at Disney in January (6 medals - I might have to do this someday for the bling alone!).  I was in VERY good running company :)

me, Betsy, Mike, Lani and her little guy T.

Because Mike is the co-founder of #PlankADay and the CORErection officer of the Plank Police on twitter, we couldn't get away without a #plankaday! Pretty impressive - over 9000 people are using that hash tag on twitter now when it just started as a way for Mike and his friend Sherry to keep each other accountable :)

note to self-wear an appropriate shirt if planking is to occur

As a matter of fact, I felt compelled to plank this morning while writing up this recap.  I hope the Plank Police take my 60 sec plank as payment for missing many months of planking.

Have you joined in with the #plankaday nation?  If you want info on how to get in on the fun, click here.

Thankful Thursday: @learningpatience #blate (blogger dates!) #getLOSTinrunning

This week I got to meet up with Corey from Learning Patience! She's a fun, runner/foodie living the expat life in Trinidad. If you don't already follow her blog, go do that...I'll wait....

We good? Excellent!

Corey was in Michigan for her nephew's graduation and decided to make the 2 hour drive from her sister's place to run a virtual 8k with me! The Get LOST in Running virtual race series is pretty cool - distances based on "the numbers" from LOST (you know, 4 8 15 16 23 42) that you run wherever and whenever you want.  Organizer Joe even says you can break them up if you want!  So far I've only registered for (and completed now) the 8k, but I might have to do more.  There are real medals for each "station" and a wicked LOST medal if you complete all 6.  This 8k (5 miles) would be Corey's longest run since coming back from a serious foot injury.

She made it to my house in a downpour so we chatted a bit while the skies cleared a little. Corey even brought me an awesome present - an "I run this body" t-shirt from mile-posts! Seriously,Corey rocks and this shirt just might be my new favorite t-shirt EVER!



The weather finally decided to cooperate so we had Kay snap a pic and we were off.

Corey is taller than I expected - or I'm just really short :)  Also note the wet - it was still raining.

I took Corey on my usual Kent Trail route - promising it was flat (she didn't totally agree but that's ok) and that the tree cover would protect us from the rain. We had an amazing run which resulted in my fastest 5 miles EVER!

what the what?!?! 9:18 average pace!!

I loved chatting with Corey, when we weren't trying to breathe. Sometimes the run just really comes together and the amazing company makes it even better.

Corey's awesome gang-sign for "8" cracked us up

After our run, we headed to a local diner to refuel, chat about blogging and share favorite iPhone apps (gotta love another iPhone addict!).  I'm not posting a picture of my breakfast because it was a ridiculous amount of food.

pic from Corey

I really love meeting other bloggers and runners.  One of the things we talked about was the amazing connection we've both made with friends all around the world thanks to our blogs.  I can't even begin to describe how thankful I am for the chance to meet up with Corey. We had a blast and hopefully will get together again sometime. Now...if I could only find that money tree and meet up with her in Trinidad :)

Gone on any fun blates lately?