I can't believe we just did this...

So this just happened....

'Mr. Sprinkles and Glitter' and I just registered for Ironman New Zealand!! I am still in shock!

Let me back up a little bit....

A couple weeks ago, a friend of ours mentioned that he was thinking about doing it with some friends, and renting a house for the week and asked if we would be interested. 'Mr. Sprinkles and Glitter' said it sounded amazing and he would really love to do it (you know, like you say you'd love to win the lottery- you don't expect it to actually happen!!)

Well, earlier this week, the same friend said they rented the house and there was room for us. We talked about it and decided that this is one of those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities and we just couldn't pass it up!

Since Ironman Arizona sells out in less than 40 seconds, we were all anxiously waiting on our computers and work and registered and minute it finally opened at 3PM! (I had a minor heart-attack when my card got declined because of international restrictions! I quickly had to call my bank and approve the transaction!)

But we all got in and are headed to New Zealand next year! Guess that means I need to get a passport! ;) And Ironman New Zealand is only 4 months after Ironman Arizona- so that will be fun! haha!

Have you ever left the country? Where did you go?

What's the most spontaneous thing you've ever done?

Our 'Frozen' Friday Night!

My nephew turned three ("free" if you ask him) this week, so we celebrated tonight with pizza, popcorn, and the movie 'Frozen', even though they've seen it a million times!

My sister and her family went to Rustler's Rooste for dinner- I think mainly for their awesome slide and cotton candy dessert, and then we headed over to this house after. We grabbed a pizza (my nephew's favorite food) on the way over. Even though he just had dinner, he still ate a piece of pizza.

We got a bunch of blankets and pillows set up in the living room and my step-dad's dog, Chip, made sure he had the best seat in the house!

While my sister made popcorn- not out of a bag?! ((Who knew this was possible? I guess she makes it herself and says it tastes WAY better. It was pretty good popcorn...) the rest of us did other important things, like foam rolling our legs. :) My niece and nephew absolutely LOVED the roller! It was the cutest thing ever!

 

While we watched the movie (by we, I really mean only me and my sister) everyone else was rolling the foam roller across the house, drawing pictures of Olaf, and eating more pizza (the birthday boy).

Yeah, 'Mr. Sprinkles and Glitter' is good at drawing!

It was awesome and I definitely think we need to start doing it more! Happy Birthday Bubs- we love you!

*What did you do on Friday Night? 

*Have you watched 'Frozen'? 

Finally celebrating Valentine's Day!

After the PHX Marathon, we came home and took hot showers and headed to favorite Biscuit's for a late brunch. Oh. My. Gosh! So, so good! I don't know if it was because I was so hungry after running or if it was just that good- but everything was amazing!

After brunch, we went home and really did nothing all afternoon- it was fabulous! I love staying inside, under a blanket, watching TV on cold, rainy days.

Can you tell he LOVES taking selfies with me?! ;)

Later on, we finally stopped watching TV and got ready for our Valentine's Day date! We originally had reservations at House Of Tricks, but because of the rain (it's an outdoor restaurant) we decided to go to Roy's at the last minute. We couldn't find our umbrella, so when we were walking out (onto the rain), 'Mr. Sprinkles and Glitter' handed me a plastic bag....? I asked him what it was for, and he told me to put it over my head so I didn't get wet- I was laughing so hard I cried- especially when I saw he modified his bag to have holes to see through. :)

As we walked in and sat down at our table (keep in mind, this is a pretty nice restaurant), I heard some crazy rap music, and it appeared to be coming from 'Mr. Sprinkles and Glitter'! I asked him if that was his phone make noise. He assured me it was and began to pull out his phone out of his pocket. As he did so, it got louder- "Christmas in Harlem" was now serenading the restaurant! He quickly turned it off- as I died laughing!

All of the food was SO delicious! And the chocolate lava cake for dessert- perfection! I'm already wanting to go back!

Once we got home, we changed into pajamas and watched a movie. Such an amazing day with 'Mr. Spirnkles and Glitter'. I am SO lucky to have such a great guy by my side- although neither of us had the race we wanted that morning, he completely made the rest of the day amazing in every way.

*Valentine's Day- love it or hate it? 

*Do you have any traditions for Valentine's day? 

Phx Marathon Race Recap!!

This weekend was SO. MUCH. FUN! I never wanted it to end!

It started with the packet pick up expo on Friday for the Phoenix Marathon- which turned into total chaos. We had originally signed up for the full marathon- but decided to drop to the half- partially because we hadn't really been training for a full (my longest run was 18 miles) and partially because there just wasn't any reason for us to do a full marathon this early in the season, when we have so many races coming up this year. 

I've dropped from the full marathon to the half marathon before, and it's never been a big deal- they just tell you to line up with the half instead of the full. Well, we asked at packet pick-up if we just run the half and they said we couldn't it was sold out. We went over to the "HELP!" booth, and explained to them what we were trying to do and they again, told us the half was sold out. 

I think at think point, we both started freaking out a little bit. So we left there, and 'Mr. Sprinkles and Glitter' wrote an email to the race director on the way home. (Keep in mind, this is Friday at 6PM, the day before the race- we really weren't expecting much at this point....)

Super-ridiculously-long story, even shorter-- they said there was nothing they could do. 

We woke up the next morning at 4AM and started getting ready. At one point, we looked at each other and I asked if we were going to get serious and go for it (head down there and try to beg/plead our way in) or go back to bed- at 4AM in the morning-- I was OK with either option! ;)

We decided to go for it and headed down there. It was supposed to rain Saturday, and when we left you could definitely feel the storm coming. I was hoping it would hold off until after the race, but knew we probably wouldn't get that lucky. 

We got to the buses and there was NO ONE! It was like a ghost town- I thought we were in the wrong spot- maybe at the buses for the 10K that had a later start?? But I think the volunteers saw us looking confused and shouted into the megaphone "HALF MARATHON BUSES RIGHT HERE! IF YOUR DOING THE HALF YOU'RE IN THE RIGHT SPOT!" So we tried to get on 1 of the 10 buses they had, and the driver told us they were still trying to fill up the first bus. We walked up to the first bus (I was holding my breath, hoping they weren't going to check out bib numbers) and he wished us both good luck and pointed us onto the bus. 

So much relief! After completely stressing out for the past 12 hours we were finally on the bus headed to the start line. All I wanted to do was run. Not long after we got on the bus, we took off and headed for the start line....the 2 of us and 4 other people. Yup, there were 6 people on our regular, full-sized school bus! It was great though, we each had our own seats and could lay down. 

Once we got to the start and got off the bus, we got in one of the ridiculously long lines for the porta-potties. At this point it was cold and pretty windy. at 6:15am, they played the National Athem and I-kid-you-not, had a 4th of July fireworks display at the end! No joke! It wasn't like 1 or 2 cute little fireworks- it was several of the big, loud, bright fireworks!!

They went on for so long, I had time to take my phone out and get a picture!

After we used the port-a-potties, we tried to huddle around one of the heat lamps they had- which was SO nice- but didn't help much with the cold rain and wind. After a couple minutes we had to pull ourselves away and head towards the start line.

SO happy to be able to run!! :)

Everyone was huddled together and freezing in the dark- not the best looking scene. To my fellow runners.... you know how you sometimes will bring a sweater/sweat pants/whatever and where them to the start line, then take them off and throw them? And they all get donated to a local charity or homeless shelter? (I usually do this too.) Today, I was that charity!! I was so cold and wet in my tank top and arm warmers that I grabbed a jacket laying on the ground and wore it for the first 4 miles! It was amazing! Thank you to whoever brought the thick grey jacket with green stripes!! :)

I took off WAY too fast and ran the first 2 miles in about 18 minutes. When I realized I was going too fast, I think I slowed down too much and my pace became 10:30ish. Once I realized I was going to slow, I tried to steadily pick up the pace, but I just ran out of time/miles to make it up.

When I finally hit the last mile I gave it everything I had. I was sprinting towards that finish line hoping to finish under 2:10. I took out my headphones so I could hear the music and the crowd- it was great! I looked down at my watch and I was at a 6:45 pace- I was flying! I brushed some guys arm (seriously, barely grazed it) so I turned and politely waved and said "sorry!" and kept going. Getting closer to the finish line, pushing through, leaving nothing in the tank, almost there--- them BOOM! The guy I brushed by came barreling at me and totally body chucked me. Causing me to trip over my own feet and almost fall over!! I don't know what startled me more- almost falling or the fact that someone actually just hit me.

I turned about and shouted "what the heck?!?!" and he just looked and me (like "what??") and acted like he had no clue what he just did. Then he shouted "I'm going to kick your a$$!" and started sprinting-- so I did the only logically thing I could think of and took off sprinting too. I was quite a ways a head of him and turned around and looked at him like where you at?! and kept going towards the finish.

Cold, wet, and tired.

I finished in 2:09- not great, but I'll take it. I found 'Mr. Sprinkles and Glitter' and he got a free turkey hot dog- he said it was really good too! haha! We also recycled our timing chips on the back of our bibs- I've never done thing before, but it was pretty cool.

After the race we hung out and then FINALLY celebrated Valentine's Day with a dinner date! That's coming up next... :)

Did anyone else race this weekend??

Do you like running in rain? I've never raced in the rain, so it was a fun experience. But it did feel like every rain drop was headed straight into my eyes and it was too dark to wear my sunglasses. LOL!

It's been awhile...

It happened. It FINALLY happened.

I swam yesterday. It was my first swim since Ironman Arizona. I didn't really go into it with any plan, not knowing how I'd do after over 3 months off. I told myself I had to swim at least 20 laps (1,000 meters) and was pleasantly surprised when I was able to swim 32 laps (a mile) without stopping. It felt GREAT! I don't think I've ever had a swim feel as good as this one.

I'm not sure what changed, but I felt so different swimming. I felt like my form was WAY better and I felt like I was going a lot faster than I normally do. (I didn't bring my watch, because I was going into it with no plan.) I'll bring a watch to my next one and see if I really am faster, or if I just forgot after 3+ months off. ;)

Our friend Jon's birthday was a couple weeks ago and we finally planned to all go out and celebrate tonight. Every year for the past 6 years, we've celebrated his birthday by going to Texas Roadhouse and he gets a steak the size (in ounces) of his age (so when he was 28 he did 28 ounces). I think we've hit the point where he just orders a steak now, no extra ounces. ;)

6 years celebrating

For the past few years, I've taken a picture of us there and held up the number of years- everyone laughed about it then, but this year everyone knew when we started because I always hold up the number of years. (Moral of the story: take a lot of pictures- no matter who laughs! ;))

Last year, celebrating 5 years

After dinner we went back to Jon and Sheri's house and hung out way too late. It was one of those nights were everyone just had a good time and my abs and cheeks hurt from laughing so hard. We ended the night with a 4 person selfie:

There are less than 15 weeks until Boise 70.3- anyone else doing this race? 

We are going to NYC in less than a month! Does anyone have any recommendations or tips? 

Love Day!!

So this year we both stuck with tradition and worked Valentine's Day at the restaurant we met at, Marcello's Pasta Grill. (Last year, I worked alone.) It was such a looong day- I worked 10 hours at my regular job and then worked 5:30-10:30 at the restaurant. I'm not sure how I used to do this 3 nights a week- on top of college- I'm definitely getting older.

It's been a long time since I wore this work shirt- I honestly think the last time I wore it was last Valentine's Day.

I walked in and we were already slammed, it was crazy busy ALL. NIGHT. LONG! We were on a wait until well past 9:00pm! It was never-ending-non-stop-working.

We finally left around 10:30 and headed home. At this point, we were both exhausted and starving but didn't have a ton of options for food. So- we ordered pizza at 11:30 for delivery! Best decision! It was SO good!


Do we look tired?!

I think we watched a movie? I can't remember, but we finally went to bed around 1:30-2:00 in the morning.

We woke up Saturday and had 'The Skirt Chaser' run at 2:00. So we decided to go to breakfast (Is it still considered breakfast if it's 11:30am/noon??) to our favorite place, Biscuits. This place is serious SO good you can't stop- which usually isn't a problem, but when you have a race later that day- not the best. We learned this the hard way.

We somehow managed to make our way down to the race- in the ridiculously hot weather too. We were cutting it kind of close and still had to register, so we jogged from the car to the registration tent. (This is where it really sunk in that a big breakfast may not have been the best idea.)


I thought this shirt was fitting- "I love my boyfriend!"

We got registered and found some friends to hang out with before the start. This is one of those races where the ladies start first and then the guys start 3 minutes later...'chasing the skirts'.... get it?! ;) I was sweating before we even started, it was SO hot!
Last year, 'Mr. Sprinkles and Glitter' caught me right around the half way point and then ran the rest of the race with me, which was great, he pushed me so hard I ended up PR'ing there. I told him all I wanted this year for Vanetine's Day was a new PR- no pressure right? Haha!


The girls took off and when we got about 10 steps into the race my watch beeped that the memory was full- awesome! I didn't really have the coordination/time to delete other workouts so I figured I would just wing it until 'Mr. Sprinkles and Glitter' caught me. I still could see my pace, so I had that to work with.

I always forget that there are SO-many-dang-hills in this race! My archenemy, Curry Hill was involved- we had to run up it, then back down it to the turn around point. Then we had the pleasure of turning around and right right back up it! I could tell everyone really loved this part- especially with the heat! ;)

'Mr. Sprinkles and Glitter' didn't catch me until we hit the 2 mile marker and we were both not feeling so great from our breakfast. But we started climbing the next hill and he asked me if I was ready to "start pushing it"- I already felt like I was sprinting- but I told him yeah, and we picked up the pace a little bit.

This MUST have been before we were 'pushing it'. (And they only pictured 2/3's of 'Mr. Sprinkles and Glitter'- rude!;))

I kept asking how much further we had and what time it was- I was out of my comfort zone and wanted it to be over. He kept telling me to pick it up and push it- and I didn't have enough energy or air to respond with anything other than "OK"- so that's what we did.

When we were turning the final corner off of the Mill Bridge, I asked how much further we had and he said "the finish is right there!" and to go hard. I gave every last bit of energy I had to that final stretch and sprinted as fast as I could to the finish line.

I finished in the exact same time (to the second!) that I did last year: 27:13. I definitely felt like I was working harder this year- maybe I was just in better shape last year? It was still a super fun race!

Like always, we will probably go out and celebrate Valentine's Day in a couple weeks, but I did make 'Mr. Sprinkles and Glitter' a card and paint my nails with SUPER cute nail polish I found on the clearance rack at Ulta- major score!! OH and my bonus-mom sent us the BEST cookies I've ever tasted- seriously they were amazing!

You can't really tell in the picture- but the nail polish had white, pink, and red glitter in it. SO perfect!!

 Did you run in any Valentine's Day races?

What did you do for Valentine's Day? Did anyone get engaged?!

The time I celebrated National Fro Yo Day TWICE!!

HAPPY NATIONAL FRO YO DAY!! (For reals this time too! ;))

So, let's back up to Tuesday.... I was reading some of the other blogs I follow- and they had posted that they celebrated Monday night! I freaked out and totally thought I for sure missed one of my favorite holidays.

I texted 'Mr. Sprinkles and Glitter' and told him I forgot and said we were going to be celebrating a day late. :(

So, that night, I did my first track workout (there will be more on this later) and after dinner we went to get Fro Yo. When we walked in, I asked the guy working there if they did anything special yesterday. He looked at me like I was crazy and told him it was National Fro Yo Day and he said no, he didn't even know there was such a thing. I told him that they didn't do anything last year either!

Mine's the one with all the sprinkles! ;)

So we got our fro yo, and when we got up there to pay- I put all three cups on the scale and he told me to take one off. So I did, and he said he "Happy National Fro Yo Day, that one's free!" Best surprise ever!! I thanked him and told him this was the first time I've ever got free stuff 'celebrated' one of my favorite holidays!

This was right after my track workout- which is why I look so great! haha!

It was a day late- but great! Or so I thought....
So, Wednesday, I was working on my blog post about it and was Google-ing National Fro Yo day for an image, and everything kept saying February 6th! Which is also what I had on my calendar! So I didn't miss it!! Woohoo!!

I texted 'Mr. Sprinkles and Glitter' again and told him we didn't miss it and it was the 6th- at this point, I think he thought I was just trying to get more Fro Yo. ;)

So tonight, we went back to our fro yo place and got more fro yo- nothing special happened this time either. But the fro yo was amazing as always!

Again, my good looks are from another track workout! ;)

So I technically celebrated twice- but I'm not complaining about it! ;) Moral of the story is: when in doubt- just get more fro yo!! ;)

Did you celebrate National Fro Yo Day??