#Carlees31

A pretty RAD runner friend is going to be celebrating her birthday soon. In true Carlee fashion, she is using her birthday to spread the love in 31 days of giving.  And she has asked those who can or want to, to join in on the fun! How inspiring is that?!?!   

When she announced her birthday plans a couple of weeks ago, we knew we wanted to join in, but were unsure on exactly how. Well, obviously we had to include the children. If you have been following along with our little family here on the blog or through Instagram or Twitter, you know we try our very best to include our children in what we do to stay physically, emotionally and mentally healthy. Hence forth we brought Carlee's idea to our children and asked them what they would like to do. Here is what we plan on doing:

1. No shame in our game, we are Starbucks addicts!  Throughout the rest of August and into September, we will randomly pay for Starbucks for the next person in line.

2. There are so many causes that mean something to our family. We have met so many good people who are a part of this wonderful running community and some of them raise money for awesome causes or charities. Our three older boys will pick a charity each and they will contribute a small donation of their own hard earned money to the charity. Here are links to just a few of the many that are out there:  @Sharpendurance @pastrychef_dani @Run8va @cdoinc. Give each of them a follow too as they are all #goodpeople!

3.  Our closets were overflowing with running shoes that were retired. We donated our shoes where they will be "recycled" for another runner who needs them. 

Carlee is such a selfless, kind hearted person. To her, spreading the birthday love is about giving to others - dog toys for the animal shelter, flowers to the elderly or care packages to service men - but it is so much more. She is giving the opportunity for others to be kind and generous. She is giving a family, likes ours, the opportunity to teach our sons humility, generosity, understanding and the beauty in social service.  

Check her out on any one of her platforms below (or get her app. Yup she has an app, she is that awesome!). @carleemcdot CarleeMcDot.com I guarantee you, she will change your mood, your day, and your entire outlook. 

Fitfam6 Fall Training Starts Soon!

With the days ever so slowly getting shorter and our annual Disneyland trip for the RunDisney Half Marathon weekend quickly approaching, fall training is on the mind. In the past, Dave and I plot out what we think we can manage between work, children, other family obligations, the children's busy academic life and so much more. Dave, always the more "dedicated" runner has followed structured plans such as Hanson's marathon plan. I on the other hand try my best to fit in what I can when I can. I try to commit to 4-6 days of running per week and depending on how much time I have in the evenings, I decide distance and type of training run I can implement. Not the best method but again, we do what we can.  

This year we are trying a whole new approach for many reasons: 

1. Nearly the whole family now has bigger goals of runner farther and better. Dave and I are planning for marathon distances in 2016. I have WDW Marathon and the Inaugural Pony Express Marathon with David next year. The older boys want to train and run more 10k races and Elias who has run/walk 5ks in the past wants to run longer and walk shorter.  

2. We are busy, busy, busy. Between having a 5 year old with afternoon kindergarten, Jacob starting band, Gabriel being in Middle School and all the things that come with that, Asher and his therapy and full time employment, we need structure. Training plans offer that structure.  

3. In our efforts to continue to be an example and to teach our boys about goal setting and hard work, organizing training plans is another way to incorporate life skills into our everyday living.  

This time around we are making the effort to follow Hal Higdon's 10k and Marathon programs. Below are the plans we have chosen: 

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

Hal Higdon Marathon and 10k training plans and Kids 5k plan

There is a caveat, at least for me. In the Marathon plan, intervals, hill repeats, strides, etc are not noted. I am working those into my run days. Yes, I understand that if I adjust the plan then I am not truly following the plan. My reasoning is I am limited on time and need to fit in what I can. I am not training to be fast, simply training to finish better than past times with no set number in mind. Therefore, I want to implement into my training, opportunities to be a stronger runner which means slight modifications during some runs.  

As for David, I'm not really sure of his end goal. I think he's mostly training because I need company and forcing him to run with me. He has always been a better runner than me, so it's nice to have him along for this ride so I can push myself a little and we can look forward to a semi-date. Sad, but true. We use races as dates. It's the life of having multiple children.  

What races are you training for?  Which training plans have you utilized?   

Birthday Photo Recap

A few pics from my 37th Birthday in Santa Cruz, Ca. We hit up the Mystery Spot first and it was a pretty cool experience! The boys had a good time listening to the backstory and witnessing the demonstrations. We hiked a bit around around the spot and snapped up some photos along the trail. 

After lunch we spent the afternoon at New Brighton State Beach which was down the road. It was a perfect afternoon as the clouds broke and the sun shined down on the beach. I couldn't have asked for a more relaxing birthday. 

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

Our Newest Running Toy: Bugaboo Runner

Before I get into the review of the Bugaboo Runner, let me share with you that we tend to use things until the wheels come off, almost literally. Our first (and only runner) was an original Baby Jogger. We purchased it 12 years ago when our oldest was an infant. We used it for our first "race" in San Francisco at Chrissy Field. It has served us well over the years, allowing us to be active with all four kids. But the time came to replace it and when we learned last year that Bugaboo was coming out with a jogging stroller, we waited patiently to get our hands on one.  

bugaboo runner chassis

We are current bugaboo bee stroller owners. We absolutely love bugaboo and appreciate that part of the philosophy of the brand is to provide quality products for families who are looking for space saving baby gear.  The Runner is no exception. For current bugaboo stroller owners you only need to purchase the frame and corresponding seat adapters. Genius!  I can use my Bee stroller seat on the Runner frame.  Therefore I am only having to store a second frame rather than a whole other stroller.  For those who are not current owners you will need to purchase the entire kit which is pricey in comparison to other strollers on the market - but the advantages I believe the Runner has - make it a stroller worth considering.  

runner with Bee seat installed

There are many things that I absolutely love about the Bugaboo Runner.  

Unobstructed view of Mommy!

* The seat is reversible!!!  Ok this is huge everyone. Yes, I know other running strollers provide this option when using the car seat adaptor, but the Runner gives that option beyond the car seat. For my youngest who needs to see me while running, it has been a game changer. I can see him the entire time, talk to him, glance down and smile at him, see if he needs help, etc. He has enjoyed every mile that we have used the Runner, no tears and no reflux (health issues).   

* The Handlebars are petite friendly.  We have shopped around for running strollers for years. Always the biggest problem was the handlebar height. All strollers, even those where the handle bar top folded down still felt slightly high. With the Runner there are three adjustable heights for the entire bar. Works perfect. I use the middle height often, adjusting to the lowest height when I'm am running against strong wind or up hill to help with leverage while not allowing my shoulders to tighten. David uses the lowest height primarily. The tallest height we do not use. We are short and that height is about mid-chest. I love the different heights for comfort but it has really helped with training with the stroller -- different heights for different conditions.  

* Time for baby to relax. The seat reclines!  There are three seat heights - completely upright, slight recline and then full recline. Just to note, Bugaboo recommends NOT sitting the child in full upright position while facing you. Our youngest never slept in our old jogger perhaps because it was 12 years old, but regardless he has taken naps while I run in the Runner allowing me to go farther.   

* Storage, storage and more storage!  The basket is large and that is great, but what's better is that the basket has two rows of elastic straps divided into three sections to securely place items. I've used it for water bottles, baby food and my wallet. There is also three Velcro mesh pockets on the front flap of the undercarriage basket that fit my iPhone 6 Plus perfectly, plus the other two pockets work great for fuel. Everything in its place and a place for everything!  

* Large wheels, great suspension, and perfect wheel distance. At first glance, the Runner frame may seem large but in actuality it isn't that much longer than most other jogging strollers. The distance between the wheels is perfect allowing for stability of the seat.  Combined with responsive suspension and fixed front wheel (my opinion on this further down), the ride for child and runner is smooth. 

* No distractions, minimal design. Ok this might be a silly "like" for the runner, but comparing to other strollers out there I enjoy that it is a seat and a frame. It looks minimal, there are not a lot of things to be fiddled with. It looks great on the road, but doesn't compromise function and comfort. 

* Comes with its own air pump. Ok how convenient?  It is small enough to take it with you on runs in the basket of you want. This is more of a convenience perk. Most households have a tire pump, but it's always nice to have a dedicated one for your stroller that is compact and easy to use. The Bugaboo Runner kit also comes with a rain cover. If you are a current Bugaboo owner, you will have to purchase this separately.  

I will admit that I am a bit biased towards the Bugaboo Runner simply because I am a current owner of the Bugaboo Bee stroller, yet there are a few things that didn't strike a positive note with me. 

* Woah, it is heavy!  I am used to a very light jogger. My first few uses of the runner (about 15 miles of use) my stroller pace slowed by 30 secs to 1 min. I felt the weight difference immediately. The frame is 19.3 lbs, whereas with the Runner seat (not the bee) it comes to 27.9 lbs. Sizable in my mind. 

* Folding can be challenging. I feel as if I need about 3 more inches on me to fold this stroller comfortably. As I said earlier, we keep things until they do not work anymore or simply are not functional in our lives. With that being said, I hate (yup I said hate) having the stroller handle hit or even tap the ground when folding. I want to make sure the stroller lasts long and looks well maintained. The size and weight make it somewhat challenging for me.

Now last but not least, let me address that fixed front wheel. For some, that might be a negative. Having the ability to have the wheel fixed or swivel is personal preference and if there is a budgetary concern or you live in a small space, a "twofer" might be an option. You might want a stroller you can run with and also go about town shopping. However, in my opinion in most cases you want a one trick pony. To be honest, I am a minimalist when it comes to products. I do not like clutter at all.  But here are certain times when safety, function and durability take precedence. A fixed front wheel is a must because it offers stability. It is a safety feature. Also running strollers are not compact, no matter the brand. Using a running stroller to go through narrow grocery store aisles or through small store openings is bothersome. 

Bugaboo has created a great product with the Runner. They have combined comfort, safety and function with a beautiful aesthetic. The stroller offers many many positive perks that I feel outshine the challenges. When shopping for your first or next running stroller, add the Runner in the mix. Try it out, take it for a test run at your local Buy Buy Baby or Right Start, it is worth the time and investment.

The value of spectating races

We always try to teach our boys good values: how to be selfless individuals, the importance of hard work and how to enjoy supporting others. Recently we spectated at the annual San Francisco Marathon and continued these lessons.  It was a challenge to get the boys up and out of the house by 4:30 am to make the 2 hour drive to the City, but the night before, as with everything that we do, we talked about the early morning plans and why it was important to celebrate those running and completing a half marathon or full marathon. Hard work, dedication, perseverance and passion; all character traits we want to not only tell our boys are important, but also show them in ourselves and others. And heck, what better way then being a spectator of a race.  

The boys first experience cheering on runners of longer distances came a few months ago.  Earlier this year, our family made the trip out to the beautiful Napa Valley to cheer on my Brother-In-Law as he raced in his first full Marathon and our friend Stephanie (@ganeeban) running her second full. We made signs, packed cowbells, brought chairs and readied our cheering voices. We had so much fun cheering on runners and discovered that supporting these racers was a reward in itself.  At the finish line, the boys were beaming as they saw runner after runner cross that finish line.  They were in awe of how many miles so many people chose to run.  Even more, when runners came up to our family to thank us for supporting them and told the boys they needed those Hi-5's at mile 18, the boys could not help but smile from ear to ear.  It was a new feeling to experience the excitement and exhilaration of race, but not be racing.  

We’ve both run a marathon before and know what it’s like at certain points of the race. Traditionally, at mile 18, runners seem to hit an imaginary “wall” and struggle from that point on. It’s at these choke points of a Marathon that support from family and friends is most needed. In fact, any positive energy from spectators – at any point in the race – is well received in the marathon distance.  For the Napa Marathon, the boys noticed that mile 18 a lot of runners were stopping to walk, stopping to catch their breath or just seemed overwhelmed with the 8 miles left to go.  They used those observations to cheer harder and louder.  Although, we did have to shush one boy when he yelled the dreaded, "You're almost there!" (lol).  We explained how it might seem encouraging, but with 8 miles to go, those were probably not the right words to shout at a person who is likely starting to question if they could or even wanted to finish.  

During the San Francisco Marathon, we positioned ourselves at the 13/16 mile point on the course.  A cheer station was set up by @PavementRunner and the @werunsocial crew.  The boys enjoyed the company of others who were cheering with us. We made signs, brought them down and tried our best to be cheery, but I must admit more than half the crew were delirious with lack of sleep and couldn't focus too much on cheering for part of the time we were there.  This spectating experience was a little different than Napa. The boys observed that at mile 16, our station point, runners were beat up, lacking confidence, grimacing, etc. They also saw that our cheers, whistles, signs, music and especially our words of encouragement were brightening up those who were feeling a bit down. We reminded them about Napa and that shouting uplifting things to the runners, hyping them up, and clapping for their accomplishments was giving them a boost inside. Even with headphones on and music blaring, seeing a stranger cheer and clap for you gives you a sense of happiness and helps you forget that you have a burning calf, chafing thigh, sore back, etc.  

#WERUNSOCIAL cheer station at Mile 13/16. LtoR: @pavementrunner, @renewedme, @katietheactor

When we cleaned up our cheering station and walked back to our car, we asked the boys if they enjoyed cheering on runners. They all had something they wanted to share about what they enjoyed about cheering other runners on.  For Napa, they enjoyed seeing people they knew and the look of pure joy and gratitude on their face that we came to cheer them on.  For San Francisco, it was being part of a small group cheering runners on and also seeing a few runners that were "dressed up" or turned their head because their outfit was, let's say "different".  But with both races we spectated at, all the boys left feeling complete admiration for all the runners, for their hard work, their strength and motivating attitude.  Seeing runners push through what seems impossible, inspires our children and reminds them that nothing worth being proud of ever comes without hard work and passion.  Mission accomplished.  

Have you ever spectated at a race? How did it make you feel? 

jaybird bluebuds x review

     About three years ago, I would run with music.  It was great.  I would run down the street, looking odd because I would be singing my favorite songs as I logged my miles.  However,my old running headphones, which were great because they wrapped behind my head and weren't too snug in my ears, broke.  My first run without music was hard, but it got easier.  Then I started to look odd because instead of singing with noticeable headphones in my ear, I was talking to myself outloud while running.  It was a bit of alone time, not completely quiet because I live in the suburbs and cars whizz by all the time, but yet a solitude with my thoughts not distracted by a top 40 hit.  

     There were other reasons I refrained from buying new headphones and retrained myself to enjoy some media free miles.  The biggest was safety.  I could easily hear cars, people, bikes, dogs, you name it coming my way.  I will admit in the past, I sometimes didn't hear that car coming from behind me to turn into the grocery store parking lot.  Not smart at all.  Also for safety, as a female runner running a majority of miles solo, being able to be 100% aware of my surroundings.  Thirdly, I have sensitive and small ears therefore ear buds end up hurting after about 6 miles.  6 miles is sometimes pushing it.  With my small ears, it is also hard to find earbuds that will stay in comfortably.  

     Recently, I have been wanting to have music on my runs again, though.  The biggest reason is that I have sort of fallen out of love with running; not completely.  I still crave a good run pushing myself to run "fast", a great run with my boys so we can discuss what is new in their life, a run date with the hubby is always good.  I had a really disappointing race at the beginning of the year, a race where I thought I might not finish, was hurting and saw my finish time grow by nearly an hour.  After that race, the motivation diminished.  Music seemed like the answer lately.  I wanted to hear those top 40 hits or 90s hip hop groups to cheerfully make me forget the struggle I was having to get out and run.  The answer: Jaybird BlueBuds X.

     I've had my pair of BlueBuds X for about two weeks now.  I was super excited to open the packaging.  It basically opens like a book to the ear buds placed inside, surrounding a cute and tiny carrying case.  Also inside are different wings tips and buds.  The wing tips are used to keep the ear buds in place. There are two ways you can wear the BlueBuds - as traditional buds or around the ear.  You choose the best size according to your ear opening to make the best connection to your ear.  Right out of the gate, I chose the smallest buds.  In the house they felt great, felt like they were as snug as could be.  Once I set out on my run, the right earbud kept falling out.  I spent 3+ miles trying to put the earbud back in.  Back to the drawing board.  I spent time at home "practicing" putting them in, obviously it was user error.  But to no avail, they kept falling out; however on subsequent runs, both sides kept failed to stay in.  I went a size up and the problem has lessened, but the left side continues to fall out.  With each run, I get better at putting them in and I am confident that I will get the hang of wearing the BlueBuds X.  

     For quick reference, here is my Pros/Cons summary of the BlueBuds X:

PROS:

* Comes with a charge so you can use them right away (because who likes to open a new toy and wait for them to charge up)

* Battery Life - They stayed charged for DAYS!!! (I accidentally left them on for 24hrs and I still was able to use them before I had to recharge them for almost a week after)

* There are many options of ear bud sizes to find that perfect fit

* Two options for how to wear them for comfort and activity type - traditional and over ear

* Sound is great!  Even with just one ear bud in, I can hear my music exceptional well and the volume is not too loud

* The sleek design is cool, they are stylish without being obnoxiously out there.

* Easy to turn on/off and sync with you device

* Can be used as a handsfree device (I have not used this function)

CONS:

* It can be challenging to find the correct ear buds to fit properly

* They can be a challenge to stay in the ears

* The on/off and volume control buttons are on one side which makes that side slightly heavier than the other.  Often pulling on the ear bud and contributing to the bud falling out

     Overall, I enjoy the Jaybird Bluebuds X.  They are slowly but surely becoming part of my running essentials.  I have even wore them a few times when running with the husband.  That's huge because I like our time together.  It allows us to catch up without being interrupted by kids and I can give him a "Honey Do List".  Haha.  I am back to singing and honestly, sometimes subtly dancing to my music, more so at stoplights.  I feel comfortable using them and am still aware of my surroundings.  I have learned a thing or two from my three media free years that I believe have become habits.  The buds have surely been bringing back my eagerness to get out and run.  Recommend for sure!  

Thoughts on Raising Healthy Minded Boys

     Media campaigns - such as Dove's #realbeauty, Lane Bryant's "ImNoAngel", or even Always #likeagirl campaign which are all about empowering young ladies to associate positive attributes, and rightly so, to the phrase "like a girl" - are refreshing to see.  The media is long over due in being transparent with their marketing.  In our house we have used these commericals and viral media hashtags as foundations for discussion with our boys.  

     From practically day one with our boys, we have stressed a very simplified form of "gender neutral".  Huh, you might say?  Let me explain it this way, our boys have always been encouraged to play with dolls, dress up in whatever they want (our two oldest loved dressing in princess dresses during their preschool years), wear whatever color they want or even whatever clothes they want.  Are we perfect?  Obviously no, but we try.  So we chose to talk with our boys about the phrase "like a girl" and how three words can completely devalue the skills and talents of someone else.  We talked with them about how media images do not adequately portray what a healthy girl body should really look like.  We discussed the idea of healthy and fit, rather than skinny.  (Note: I am not saying that someone who is skinny is not fit)

     Great discussions, but yet we still failed.  How?  We never talked about healthy body image for boys.  We never discussed the pressures on boys to be strong, fast, muscular, etc.  We didn't address how "like a boy" can be just as negative depending on the context as "like a girl".  How, many times when a boy is crying or upset you hear "man up", "you're ok", "don't be a wimp" and so on.  Or even think about when you encounter young children and your first awkward attempt to get them to like you.  I work with children for a living and I hear the classic lines, "You're dress/shoes/hair is so pretty" when first meeting a girl and "You are fast/strong" when first meeting a boy.  

     All of this has been weighing on my mind for sometime now.  I've always tried to be aware of it, but a recent event made me realize how we as parents have been doing a disservice to our boys.  Recently, our oldest was able to go on a school trip to a water park.  In triple digit Northern California Weather, water parks are popular. He was excited for sure, but the night before was an emotional roller coaster.  Together we put together what we thought he would need: towel, swimsuit, sunscreen, change of clothes, slippers, hand sanitizer and money.  I talked to him about sun safety and staying hydrated.  I would not be there so I wanted to make sure he spent adequate time in shade, drinking enough water and reapplying sunscreen so we went over the times that he would have to do all that.  Yes, a bit micromanaged but I did not want him to get heat stroke.  

     He was set, but then again he wasn't.  After he went to bed, 15 minutes later he came into my bathroom, took out our scale and proceeded to weigh himself.  I am not sure what number he was hoping to see, but it went downhill from there.  Let me mention that I do not weight myself anymore.  We have the scale for our youngest to keep track of his weight gain, but to be honest, post baby 1, 2, and 3 I weighed myself often.  Less with each kid, but the scale came out nonetheless.  Back to our oldest, I yelled to him "no, no, no, no" trying to stop him before he stepped on the scale, but I failed.  I asked him Why he would do that and he just started to cry.  It broke my heart.  I wasn't sure why he was crying, perhaps because I had caught him, perhaps because he was upset with what he saw or perhaps because I asked him what was wrong.  I am not sure, but he was upset.  Later that night I learned that he was feeling scared, insecure, self conscious about his body.  Worried about how he was going to look in swim trunks and no shirt.  

      Boys have body image insecurities and pressures too.  Unlike girls, most boys with body image issues are wanting to gain muscles, they see themselves as too small, too thin, weak.  Build muscle, what's wrong with that?  It is not okay to do so because you feel you lack worth, lack self-esteem.  That would be an unhealthy association with one's body.  Yet, more and more young boys are having a negative self-image.  Since the 1980s , the amount of shirtless males in advertising has increased steadily and continues.  Media is all around them promoting big muscles with popularity and good health, but a lot of these images are unrealistic.  They see it in the superhereos on television and in movies, in halloween costumes with padded muscles, music videos and video games.  I am not in anyway blaming these examples, simply stating that they can contribute to low self-body image for young boys.  

     Research on body image for boys is lagging behind research for girls, but recent research states that 1 in 4 boys suffer from an eating disorder.  Even more, approximately 35% of boys between ages 6-8 have a distorted image of their body.  Those facts are shocking and disturbing.  In society, boys are taught that being a man is being strong, feelings are not really supposed to be talked about and crying is not allowed.  In a society where boys are discouraged from sharing their feelings, it can make it that much harder for parents to discover what is really going on with their sons in relation to body image.  They key I think is having those conversations, which is what we are trying to be very aware of with our boys.  Conversations about realistic body images for boys AND girls; conversations about being healthy, how to be healthy and not so much about what healthy looks like with the physical body; and conversations to just check in and see how they are doing personally.  Being honest with our sons, being aware of social media influences and very important, being aware with how we present ourselves and how we talk about ourselves, are what we are trying to do with our boys.  We do not want our children to have the insecurities that our oldest experienced a couple weeks ago, but when that does happen we want to make sure they are comfortable talking with us about those insecurities.  

     Emma Watson gave that glorious speech on feminism last year for the HeForShe campaign.  I read and re-read it often because she spoke a truth that I often thought and even shared with friends on occasion.  And although her speech was not about body image and self-esteem, I think it rings true for helping both boys and girls become comfortable for who they are, not obsessed with descriptors of what they are:

"Both men and women should feel free to be sensitive. Both men and women should feel free to be strong. It is time that we all perceive gender on a spectrum, instead of two sets of opposing ideals. If we stop defining each other by what we are not, and start defining ourselves by who we are, we can all be freer."

Tofu Tuesday: 2 in 1

A nice bowl of spaghetti with creamy marinara sauce and fresh strawberries. The older boys got a sprinkle of cheese on top. Yum! 

Ok so I had to take a little time off from #tofutuesday. Life happens and between ending my program year at work, the boys having lots of school events and increasing Asher's therapy to three days a week, I was tired. But I'm back at it. Once again, my disclaimer is I am no expert and I am sure some of these recipes will be a fail because half the time I have no idea what I am doing. 😂. So today's #tofutuesday is actually two recipes, one of which is from last week.  

CREAMY MARINARA SAUCE (Recipe at edibleperspective.com)

Ingredients

3 - 4 c Marinara Sauce (your own homemade one or store bought. I won't judge. Here's a link to one I like)

3 - 4 tbsp Nutritional Yeast

Firm Tofu

1 tsp Garlic

1 tsp dried oregano  

1/2 c Vegan cheese

Salt

Pepper

Process: 

In a large bowl, mix all ingredients together and blend with a hand mixer (what I did). If you do it with a hand mixer, I suggest breaking the tofu into chunks to make it easier. Or you can put it all into a blender and blend away.  

It turned out really good and creamy. Things that we noticed: 

* if you want really creamy pasta, you actually have to add more of sauce on top. It looks creamy, but this sauce is thicker than it looks.

* it makes a lot of sauce, even for this family of 6. We had leftovers for a couple days.  

* good pasta makes a huge difference. We have Asher a gluten free and began Orzo option and it was a no go. So the search for a pasta that he can eat continues. Once I find one, I will try this sauce again.  

The second recipe is actually a variation for tofu scramble. Asher has sort of become disinterested in tofu scramble. Heck, I would to if the taste was always the same. So one day, while in target I saw a vegan cookbook. As I thumbed through it I saw lots of interesting recipes, but nothing Asher could eat as of now or it had other ingredients he has allergies to and I am a rookie at substitutions. So I snapped a picture of the tofu scramble recipe. 😬.   If the recipe had been a success, I would have went back to buy it, but it was a FAIL!  I don't even have pictures of it because he hated it. The recipe is below -

Ingredients: 

1/4 cup nutritional yeast 

1/2 tsp tumeric

2 tbsp water

2 tbsp gluten free soy sauce

2 tsp olive oil

1 pkg firm tofu

Process: 

In a separate bowl combine nutritional yeast, turmeric, water and soy sauce. Stir until smooth. Set aside.

Drain tofu

Heat olive oil in pan and add tofu, crumble as you put it in the pan. Add 3 tbsp of the sauce to the tofu, mix and heat for 5 - 7 mins. Taste test and add more sauce if you want. And voila! It's done.  

I am not sure what exactly he didn't like, I can only assume the turmeric. I have used it with the tofu before and he didn't seem to like the taste then either. Will I try this recipe again?  I don't think so, but if anyone has suggestions how to improve it or delicious tofu scramble variations, I am all ears.  

#Active4Asher Recap

A couple months ago, when I was researching Asher's Chromosome 13q Deletion, I was fortunate to come across two websites dedicated to supporting families dealing with Rare Chromosome Disorders - Unique (for UK families) and chromodisorder.org (based in Florida).  It was on these websites that I learned about Rare Chromosome Disorder Awareness Week #RCDA  from June 7-13.  Almost immediately we started to talk about how to be part of that week and share about Asher.  We eventually came up with #Active4Asher, we wanted to encourage others to be active during that week to support Asher and others who cannot walk, run, jump, etc. due to a chromosome disorder.  

What transpired the week leading up to June 13th and on June 13th was above and beyond our biggest hope for the event.  We knew that we wanted it to be annual.  We knew we wanted to encourage friends near and far to join in either in person or remotely.  We hoped that maybe 20-25 people would jump on board.  Well, we met that number and so much more.  A huge thank you goes out to Carlee Padot McClurg at carleemcdot.com  for offering to promote our little event and really getting that social media aspect going and to @Chrismalenab for taking promotion to new levels.  The video he made still makes me tear up when I see it.  

On June 13th, we had over 30 people come through William B. Pond on the American River Trail to say hi to Asher, learn a little more and put in a few miles.  @Pavementrunner even came from the Bay Area to support our family!  Once we were home, we were overwhelmed by Instagram posts tagging @fitfam6, people using #Active4Asher and the sheer number of tweets kept us up until 1am!  We tried our very best to respond in some way to each post and tweet.  Take a look below at some of the photos from the day.   

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

Our biggest fear with sharing about Asher was people feeling "sorry" for him.  It was so uplifting to see faces looking back at us as we told a little bit of his story with messages of acceptance, understanding and support.  And public speaking is not my thing.  Goal for Saturday: do not cry.  Almost did, but didn't.  Whew!

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

Seeing so  many little ones come out hit the trail and support Asher was beautiful.  We wanted to spread awareness about Rare Chromosome Disorders, but we also wanted to send the message of teaching acceptance of each other, especially with the children.  

As this weekend comes to an end, we want to say thank you to everyone for showing us love over the past week and especially this weekend.  We cannot even begin to describe how grateful and humbled we are by everyone getting out there and being active.  Even more, we were able to witness family and friends accept Asher's differences with open arms, to learn about his challenges but only show encouragement and optimism for his development.  Seeing and feeling that outpouring of support emphasized to us how blessed we are to have each of you in our lives.  Runners truly make the BEST friends.  

*We want to say thank you to all the companies that donated to our giveaways: Runfargear, PavementRunner, Resqueeze, Puravida Bracelets, and Happy Family Brands.  As a reminder, our online giveaway winner will be announced on Asher's 2nd birthday - Thursday, June 18th.

A huge thank you to Chris Malenab for putting this together and to everyone who supports the message. We definitely feel the love and friendship from everyone. Asher is a special little boy, who is almost always happy despite his challenges. We hope that by spreading awareness about Rare Chromosome Disorders we are ultimately spreading awareness for friendship and acceptance, the idea that different is beautiful.  

Please get get out and be active on Saturday, June 13th. Tag @FitFam6 and use the hashtag #Active4Asher. Make sure you also check out chromodisorder.com to learn more about Rare Chromosome Disorders. It affects more individuals than you know, children living with obstacles to simply walk and talk. Spread the knowledge and spread the love. 😊

#Active4Asher

     We are one week away from our little #Active4Asher fun run/walk!  Our hope for this small, informal event is to simply participate in the Rare Chromosome Disorder Awareness Week (June 7-13) for our youngest FitFam6 member, Asher Micah.  Our fourth son was diagnosed with  Chromosome 13q Deletion less than a year ago and from that point we have been constantly trying to learn all we can about his challenges and how we can support him.  We believe one of the first ways we can support Asher is to spread awareness and education about Rare Chromosome Disorders, such as 1 in 150 children are diagnosed with a Chromosome Disorder.  Not all who are diagnosed have physical characteristics, that is the case with Asher.  To everyone, he looks like a "typical" child, however, daily Asher is working hard to learn the basic skills that come relatively easy for most babies and children.  He is in therapy now three times a week and making strides.  We are extremely proud of all that he is able to do and his willingness to learn new things.  Yet, we know his growth both physically and developmentally will not be full of challenges, perhaps there will be things that he will not be able to learn and that is okay.  As a family unit we are learning about all this and incorporating it into our family routine.  

     On June 13th, our run/walk is dedicated to Asher.  We hope to share with anyone a little information.  We know sometimes there have been questions as to why he is 2 years old (on the 18th Eeeek!  Time has gone by so fast!) and cannot crawl, stand, feed himself, talk even.  In a week, for those who are able to join our family, we will have answers.   If you are not able to physically be there to walk/run for Asher, we hope you take a little run or walk on that day and post a picture using #Active4Asher.  For those near and far who do join our little awareness event and use the hashtag, we will have small giveaway.  Some of the items are pictured below, but there will be more.  A little something for everyone.  All items are products that my family love, use and wish to share with those who are sharing their time with us.  We will look at all posts from the 13th - 14th and announce a winner on Asher's 2nd birthday on the 18th.  Thank you all for your love, support and kind words.  It does not go unnoticed by our family of 6.  

Items from top to bottom, L-R: RunFarGear, ReSqueeze Pouches, Zensah Hat, Zensah Headband, Yankzi laces, Puravida Bracelets, GoGoSqueez, PickyBars, GU Fuel

INFORMATION FOR June 13th #Active4Asher

Location: William B Pond Recreation Area (see map below)

Time: 9am - 11am

Distance: Any amount you are comfortable with.  Just have fun!

Parking Information:  There is free street parking outside the park, in the neighborhood.  It will be a little walk to the Trail, but not too far.  If you chose to park inside the park, the cost is $5. 

American River Parkway Safety: The parkway is a well used pathway for many people who walk, run and bike.  There will be "crowds", please keep that in mind that day.  Please be aware of the bikes and runners. 

Directions: From Elk Grove, take CA 99 North.  Exit US 50 East towards Lake Tahoe.  Exit Watt Ave, turn left on Watt.  Right on Fair Oaks Blvd.  Right on Arden Way.

Celebrating Mother's Day

    Today is the day to celebrate me, mom.  Each of you give me those cute homemade (school made, really) cards with “coupons” promising to do dishes, rub my legs, and keep your room clean.  You wake me up way too early with coffee and most likely a donut, all of you full of excitement and Mother’s Day wishes.  But in reality today I want to celebrate you four.  I want to take the time to look at each of you, remember each of your faces as you cheerily rush to my bedside because it is you that makes this Mother’s Day happen.  Without you, there would be no hand drawn cards or ultra sweet coffee.  Mother’s Day is as much about thanking me as it is about thanking each of you.  This is for each of you, my memories, my thank you, my love and my wishes.

    Time has certainly flown by and continues to speed up as if that is possible.  It seems like yesterday that you, my dear Gabriel Matthew was born.  How you came into this world ready to take in all that you could, refusing to sleep from moment one.  I knew from the moment I saw you that this journey was going to tiring but oh so rewarding.  I have watched you as this chubby little toddler, clinging to me for fear of anything new to this confident, mature, artistic young man.  You are a visionary and a leader.  I am always in awe of your fearlessness to lead a group.  I can picture you trailblazing projects, companies, movements and all with a sketchbook and pencil in hand.  I can’t wait to see what adventures you embark upon in life.  

    Oh and then there is you, my headstrong Jacob Michael.  When I laid my eyes upon you, it was remarkable to feel that immense sense on unconditional love all over again.  You challenge me almost daily and yes I get frustrated.  I think it is only because I see so much of myself in you. From day one, I could see in your eyes  the desire for exploration.  Often times, we would find you stuck in places because you simply wanted to see if you could fit.  You picked up “treasures” off the ground whenever we went, still do and for this germaphobe mom, I have had to deal.  You are my scientist, my “always searching” for answers, but to questions that you pose.  From the age of 2, you would ask me about the existence of human beings, the “what ifs” and God questions.  Often times, I just stare at you in amazement and admiration for your inquisitive mind and persistence to find your way.  

    Elias Mark, my curly haired wild child!  You came hardwired to love!  You have the most sensitive heart.  You are always thinking of your family, friends, loved ones.  You want to make sure everyone is happy and your ways to do so are always so creative.  You have such a playful spirit, childhood is certainly epitomized with you.  Like your brothers, you are confident, but hesitant.  You have your own sense of style and stomp through life proud of your quirky clothing choices, long curly hair and off sense of humor.  In someways, you already know who you are at the age of 5 and boy am I jealous of that.  I simply cannot believe you will be in Kindergarten in a few months and I am scared for that journey to begin because I know all to well how time speeds up once the school years start.  Yet, I can picture you going to school, smile on your face, ready to learn.  You will crack all the jokes, give all the hugs and make so many friends.  

    Last but not least, my Asher Micah, our family’s youngest blessing.  You came into to this world fast, not wanting to wait another minute.  So small, so quiet, yet full of lessons for us all.  You have truly been the happiest baby and the strongest.  Everyday I wish to be as strong as you, to be able to persevere through lifes challenges with a happy heart.  Many nights I stay up looking at you, listening to you breathing, admiring how you keep going with a smile, always a smile.  And now as you are growing, it has been great to see all your hard work fostering your personality.  The look in your eyes when you get to play with your brothers or spend time with your dad and me, is priceless.  It’s complete joy but also the hint of mischief.  I cannot wait to see you crawling around or even walking to see what you get into.  You have been faced with challenges, but you have not let that stop you.  I worry about your future, but at the same time I do not.  You are determined, focused and loved.  With all that, you will be beyond successful. 

    For all you boys, I wish for you to be best friends always.  To remember that your brothers are your strongest support system and your greatest cheer squad.  I wish for each of you to follow your dreams fiercely and hope for me to have the strength and fearlessness to let that happen.  I wish for you to fail to only make you get back up and work harder.  I wish for you to find love in whatever way that looks for you.  I wish for you to find joy, happiness, fulfillment and passion.  I want you each to have a life that is void of regret.  I wish that I can be the mother that each of you needs to foster that growth because it is true that each of you needs different “mothering”.  Mostly, I thank you Gabriel, Jacob, Elias and Asher for giving me the life that is fulfilling, blessed and blissful, my life without regret because all my choices and dreaming led me to being a mom to each of you.

2015 Mother's Day from FitFam6 on Vimeo.

Tofu Tuesday: Chocolate Chip Strawberry Scones

It has to be obvious that I have more of a sweet tooth than a savory one. And chocolate chips are a must treat for me, so when starting this (very, very amateur) tofu cooking adventure it is safe to say chocolate chips as an ingredient that had to be included to entice me. Secret? I didn't show my hesitation to my boys. Nope. Happy face with thoughts of encouraging words about how yummy it is, but to be honest, it's not really necessary. My boys have always been pretty good about trying new things at least once and they LOVE tofu.  

So as for the recipe, here it goes. Note: it's far from perfect and please tweak it to your liking. I know I'll keep adding and subtracting to it every time I make these scones.  

Chocolate Chip Strawberry Tofu Scones

Ingredients: 

2 cups flour (you can use gluten free flour) 

3 tbsp sugar (less than most scone recipes) 

1 stick vegan butter

1/2 cup soy milk (or any milk of your choice) 

1/4 cup of silken tofu  

1.5 tsp vanilla (just eyeball it) 

1/2 cup chocolate chips

1/3 cup diced strawberries

Process: 

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees and lightly grease baking sheet

2. Combine together flour, sugar and butter. Make sure butter is softened slightly and diced into pieces for easier mixing. Mix in the butter until the mixture is somewhat crumbly. 

3.  In a smaller bowl, measure out tofu and use a fork to crumble.  

4. Combine tofu, soy milk and vanilla in a bowl.  

5.  Add mixture into the dry mix. Slowly and gently mix together until a dough is formed.  

6. On a floured surface, use your hands to further knead the dough into a ball. Be careful not to overwork the dough.  

7. Roll the dough out into a circle (as best you can. Mine looked like an oval/square). With a pizza cutter, cut into triangle shapes and place on cookie sheet.  

8. Bake for approximately 20 mins. I baked mine for too long (25 mins. Yikes!). Just bake until very very light brown. They will still be slightly soft to the touch, but will cool firmer.  

Now how did they taste?  Yummy!  I actually wanted to put a little whip cream on top. Next time I will make some coconut whip cream to put a little dollop on. The biggest critics, the boys, loved them except the 5 year old. He ate all the chocolate chips and strawberries in each one and left the "bread". Not surprising to us because this kid doesn't even like cake. Seriously, doesn't like cake!  Final verdict: Chocolate Chip Strawberry Tofu Scones get a 4 out 5 stars!   

Tofu Tuesday: Chocolate Chip Tofu Cookies

Ok it's not a secret that the youngest member of fitfam6 (#6) has his own challenges, allergies and weight being two of them. So I am constantly searching for food and recipes that meet three criteria:

1. Free from his allergens

2. Is healthy while adding some lbs!

3. He will can eat it meaning texture and taste. 

Well we have come to tofu.  Now don't get me wrong, this household is far from being vegetarian, but Asher has texture barriers that has makes incorporating meat a slow process. This brings us to my experimentation with tofu aka Tofu Tuesday!  

This first Tofu Tuesday we made chocolate chip cookies. I figured if I am going to experiment with recipes and tofu let's start with sweets. I certainly have a sweet tooth🍪😋!  Luckily, these were a hit!  Everyone loved them. Give them a go and see for yourself.  

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES: 

Ingredients

2 cups gluten free flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 1/4 cup light brown sugar

3/4 cup vegan margarine or butter

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/3 cup firm or extra firm silken tofu (packed and slightly mounding) 

Chocolate Chips

Process

In a large bowl, combine your dry ingredients - flour, salt, brown sugar, baking soda

In your mixer, blend on low until creamy your wet ingredients - margarine, vanilla extract and silken tofu

Now here is the tricky part. You need to add the WET mix into the DRY mix. What I did, which created an extra dish to wash (ugh) was empty the wet into a clean bowl, pour my dry into the mixer bowl and the add the wet to the dry. I tried to mix this all by hand and boy that brought a moment of panic. It wasn't combining. So into the mixer it went and wallah it came together perfectly!  Oh and a note to keep your mixer on low or to use your mixer bowl cover. I turned it up to 3 without the cover and had bits of tofu come flying out. Mix in your fave chocolate chips and start scooping it out onto your baking sheet. 

Bake at 375 degrees for 10-11 minutes. When hey come out they need sufficient time to cool or else they completely fall apart. Once cooled they will still be very delicate but oh so yummy. I suggest storing them in an air tight container in no more than two layers. These are definitely not cookie jar cookies.  

Enjoy!

I ❤️ RnRSF

Dear Rock n Roll San Francisco, 

       Oh how I enjoyed every hilly, scenic mile. Running through the streets of the city, across the Golden Gate Bridge, through Chrissy Field feeling the Pacific Ocean breeze was just as invigorating as it was challenging. Each mile I passed, the more love I felt for running; just what I needed as of late. 

     You see rnrsf, I must be honest. Running had become a chore for me. 2015 was turning out to be the year where I was questioning my love for the sport, if I wanted to continue being a runner or just move on and find a new passion. Yet, you were all I needed to turn that corner and reignite my need to pound that pavement!   

     I could easily recap all those miles I ran and tell you how I felt each step. Post tons and tons of snapshots of the glorious view. Document my race day mindset. Tell you WHY I think the race helped me to overcome my slump. But no, I don't need to spend paragraphs on such descriptions.  

      I will tell you that I woke up that Sunday morning surprisingly calm, eager to get to the start line, warm up and just finish. I knew there were going to be hills, hills I was certainly not adequately trained for. I was eagerly looking forward to the epic views. And I was absolutely sure that I would finish this race a different runner. That is surely what happened. 

     I don't know if it was the course, the scenery, my determination to make it up Lincoln Hill or my husband and four kids waiting for me at the finish line. Perhaps it was all of those things or none of those things but RnRSF I write this letter to you to tell you I simply love you RnRSF and San Francisco!  I started the race with a smile and ended with a smile.  

I ❤️ RnRSF!  I ❤️ SF!

- Paula  

Love these 5 boys right here!  Cheering me on as I crossed the finish line.  

Finisher!  I pushed my fears of San Francisco hills aside and conquered each one...with a smile

The "bling". Well earned, representing more than just finishing 13.1, but represents determination, perseverance and a new passion for running.  

"Won't Miss Eggs" Tofu Scramble

Yummy yummy in our tummy!  This egg lovin' family has had to and continues to make changes in what's in our fridge. Asher, our youngest, has a serious allergy to all things egg. Next best thing for a morning scramble?  Tofu!   

WHAT YOU NEED:

Firm or Extra Firm Tofu

1/2 tablespoon of olive oil (you could certainly use coconut oil or grape seed oil) 

1/2 teaspoon garlic salt

1/2 teaspoon onion salt

1/2 teaspoon to 1 teaspoon pepper

dash of salt (we leave salt for each person to decide. Our 8 year old dislikes the taste of salt) 

1/2 - 1 teaspoon turmeric (optional) 

STEPS: 

1. Take tofu out of the package and press between a towel to release the water moisture. Best thing is to press the tofu overnight to make sure excess moisture is out before cooking but you could certainly do it the day off. It will simply add a few extra minutes of cooking.  

2.  Heat your own with olive oil 

3. With a fork, mash the tofu to resemble scrambled eggs  

4. Add mashed tofu with the seasonings into the pan. Stir to mix in seasonings. 

5. Cook for 10-15 minutes until the moisture is evaporated and the tofu starts to firm up.  

6. Serve and enjoy

Notes: 

* turmeric is optional. It is mostly to add color to the tofu to have resemble scrambled eggs but also adds flavor (obviously. Lol).  

* add veggies into your tofu scramble. We find a good option is very small bite size pieces of broccoli. Makes it even better.  

Asher LOVES tofu as you can see by the smile on his face.  

We've talked about it before and it's probably obvious - having 4 children and full time jobs makes training challenging for both of us. Yes, we try to include the children in our workouts and runs as much as possible, but we never want to force them to participate (they have to be willing) and there has to be training times where we can run to our best ability and then some. They say, if you want to be fast then run fast. So we have to have days where we can "run fast". (By no means am I saying Dave and I are fast, just working hard to be fast. 😉).  

So how can we both run in one day, after work and not be in he dark you ask?  We call it #runnerswitch. After work, dinner is either really simple, leftovers (yup we do that) or prepped beforehand (hello crockpot!). While the family eats dinner, one of us gets ready and runs 4-6 miles to a selected park. The family meets the runner at the park and "tag your it!", the other one runs the 4-6 miles home. It's the best way we can equally get training time and the kids get outdoors for an hour+!  Win win!!!  

With the weather getting warmer, daylight longer #runnerswitch is back!  And we love it. When this time of year comes along we get to spend almost every night of the week running and playing at the park.   It's a family affair for sure where everyone gets to  participate in physical activity, enjoy the outdoors and enjoy each other's company. It is extremely important to us to model for our children healthy living which also means balance. We do not force our children to run, play soccer, tennis, etc but emphasize keeping active even if it's climbing, jumping and running around a park. Fun and family is what it's all about. 

If you have children, how do you and your partner get training runs in?  How do you involve your children in running and/or staying active?    

Without Limitz

I must admit that I have always been envious of those who obtained ambassadorships from companies related to the sport of running. I thought, "One day it would be cool to be an ambassador for x." Well I'm ecstatic to announce that I, along with a handful of other AWESOME athletes, have been chosen to represent Zensah as Ambazsadors (see the nifty play with letters there?) for 2015. This is wonderful news and feels like a shot of adrenaline. I can't wait to represent and spread the word about Zensah products while doing what I love. 

Running has given me the opportunity to meet so many amazing athletes who share the love of running. A company like Zensah also shares this love and makes functional, great looking products that are perfect for an active, athletic lifestyle. It's these new relationships that motivate and inspire me to train harder, perform better, and run #withoutlimitz. 

I am truly honored to have been selected and can't wait to see what this year brings.

runDisney Race Registration Woes

There have only been a few times I've been critical of runDisney and the way they handle their business. The races are all very well ran, the support is top notch but the registration process leaves a lot to be desired.  

These races are becoming increasingly popular and so the number of people not being able to get into these races in also increasing. It used to be that those who wanted it the most were rewarded with a race bib. Whether it was for a multi-race challenge or not, if you were ready and waiting at 9 a.m. (most even earlier) you could log on and register with ease.

That ship has sailed. The benefit, or perk if you will, of being a Disney Annual Passholder (AP) is having early access to race registrations. Yes, I understand that this is a benefit, not a guarantee, that can be taken away at any time, yadda yadda. But for now it exists.  Most AP early registration periods are a week or two before the public has a chance to register. It's given that the number of people wanting to register for this race who hold AP's is greater than the allotted number of slots available. Yet, it’s maddening when the system doesn't reward those who are the most hungry. If you stayed up on dates, set multiple alarms, did research and were well prepared for registration and still didn’t get in, I feel for you. If you did all of that and still registered other, non-AP holders for races, then shame on you.  I don’t know what the solution is and i’m sure there are plenty of people who have ideas. One race registration per Annual Pass, anybody?

Two weeks ago, the early AP registration period began for the Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend and as usual, the links to the 3rd Party registration site, Active.com weren't up. It took a few, very looong minutes for them to appear. Rumor has it that the links were up and running on the East Coast before they were on the West Coast, where the race is being  held. There goes home field advantage.

Regardless, the time spent refreshing pages, frantically completing online forms, made the playing field a total crapshoot. The servers did not perform well. Heck, they didn’t perform at all. The Dumbo Double Dare (DDD) challenge was what most people wanted to register for. We were in that group of people. More importantly, we wanted to register our two oldest sons for their very first 10k race. No success with that distance either. We were prepared, patient and hungry and we were not rewarded for our efforts.

I was only able to register for a single half marathon before all others were “sold out”. Our hand was forced. Do we register for another Half Marathon now or take a chance on DDD on public registration day? When the servers go crashing down for an audience that is supposedly smaller than the general public, something is wrong.

Fast forward to public registration day. The servers held up commendably compared to two weeks ago. The number of people attempting to register is much bigger (yes, I know there are more slots available) but I can’t help think a huge ball was dropped on early AP registration day. So, our family of six is now registered for the 2015 Disneyland Half Marathon weekend - thanks to a 3rd party Disney blog, I found a direct link to the active.com registration page no less - and it was a very stressful  process.  It shouldn’t have to be.

We won’t officially be doing the Dumbo Double Dare challenge but we’re running the same exact races. We have three of those awfully cute Dumbo medals to look at already anyway.  It wasn’t about that. It’s about the 10th anniversary of the Disneyland Half Marathon, and more importantly our kids’ first 10k race.

The challenge is on runDisney to fix a broken system. I'm not saying the system isn't fair. It is. We were all given advance notice and multiple reminders. Again, i'm not sure what the solution is. There's an idea of moving to a lottery system. Yes, it means we may not get in but it is a "cleaner" process than what we have now. If the registration process is handled the way the races are managed, we'd all be a little better off. 

Did you have a good experience registering for the race? What do you think needs to be done to alleviate this stress?

What a start to 2015

Going Goofy

All the coffee in the world couldn't keep us up after the past two weeks of runDisney racing we've completed. We started our race calendar out in cold, rainy Orlando, Florida. Wait what? Yes, the weather during the Walt Disney World Marathon weekend was not ideal and it was challenging but we sucked it up and raced the 10 Year Anniversary Goofy Challenge. This consisted of a Half Marathon on Saturday and a Full Marathon on Sunday. 

Running my 1st Marathon at Walt Disney World! The Expo was manageable and packet pick up was a breeze. 

Because we were running the GoofyChallenge, I just had to. 

The Half was so much fun. We agreed to take it easy, save our energy for the Full and snap a few pictures along the way. The course was fun running through two Walt Disney World parks. While it was tempting to run fast to escape the chilly weather we stopped at most of the character stops along the course to preserve memories. We couldn't have asked for a better race. We talked, took pics and even ran with new friends along the way. So far, a great way to start off the new race calendar.

Yeah, it was as cold as it looks. Brrrrrr!

The way @runDisney themes their picture spots was so fun. There was even a fog machine working.

Obligatory Cinderella Castle pic right after running down the entire Main Street, U.S.A. 

The following day, after another early wake up call we made our way to the start line of the marathon. This is the Super Bowl race of Marathon Weekend and the fact that it was Paula's very first marathon made it even more exciting. I couldn't help but feel proud of what she's been able to accomplish. Registering and training for your first marathon is daunting on it's own but doing it as part of the Goofy Challenge is borderline crazy.

Mary and Bert picture spot along the Half Marathon course. 

The sun started to peek out and lit up our Donald medals. Better late than never i guess. 

Since we used the Half Marathon to take pictures the previous day, we focused on the run at hand and kept the phones tucked away. This race holds a special place in my heart since it was my very first marathon as well and running through the four Walt Disney World parks is really something special. The course is amazing. Running around the Walt Disney World Speedway was insane. We felt good running together and could feel the challenge that was Goofy around the later miles of the race. 

It's nice that rare characters get to come out for the runners along the Marathon course. 

A special thing happened at around mile 19 of the race when Paula's sister surprised her by showing up with our four sons to cheer us on. Her sister and I worked together to complete the surprise which was a perfect boost at the perfect time. We finished the race with smiles on our faces, and even jumped over the the finish line holding hands. (At least we attempted to jump. I don't think either of us got that high). We recovered from the race by exploring some of the resorts on the Disney property and walking the junk out of our legs. 

This is why we signed up for WDW Marathon Weekend. The 10 Year Anniversary Goofy Challenge Medal. Goofy spins inside the zero! Coast to Coast challenge, here we come!

May The Course Be With You

Immediately after returning home from WDW Marathon Weekend we did laundry, packed up the suitcase and headed down to Disneyland for the Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend. Since it was an inaugural race, we just had to sign up for it. Coming off of the Goofy Challenge, paula's first marathon, Walt Disney World park touring, and traveling, we vowed to have a fun race and soak up the fun of an inaugural race. 

#shutyourface! It's @carleemcdot. Meeting friends at race Expos is so much fun. 

Since we didn't have anyone to watch the young ones on Saturday, I did the Star Wars 10k solo. It's part of the Rebel Challenge which consists of a 10k on Saturday and the Half Marathon on Sunday. So let's stop and recap a bit: two @runDisney challenges in two weekends, two different states, 4 races and 58.6 miles of racing. It sounded like a good idea last year when registering for these darn things. The race was fun. Again, I brought my phone and took pics along the course with the cool characters throughout the parks. The course was awesome. We ran inside the parks (some backstage) for the most part and the support was excellent.

I made sure to catch a picture with Chewie! I was in the front pack so the line wasn't long at all.

A little Kids Race action on Saturday after the Star Wars 10k. 

The Half Marathon on Sunday was exciting. The course was brand new, and we enjoyed it tremendously. Beware fasties, it's a very fast course and you could easily get carried away and throw down a Disney PR if you tried. I'm a big Star Wars fan and seeing all of the cool creative costumes put a smile on my face. The best part of these races is running them together with @prvilladelgado. When we run together, we finish together. It was an amazing race and one we will continue to do in the future. 

It's already been a fast start to 2015 and it's a good sign of things to come. We are tired. So very tired and will rest up in the mean time while planning the rest of our calendar. Was it stressful flying cross-country, and racing at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland two weekends back-to-back? Of course but we wouldn't trade it for anything. Earning a Coast to Coast medal (running at least a half marathon in WDW and Disneyland in the same calendar year) in two weeks is pretty darn cool IMHO. I'm proud of what we just accomplished and even more proud that Paula ran her first marathon. Most importantly we had fun doing it.

Meet @jilliankmf. She's a runner and she's awesome. Oh and she PR'd her 10k this weekend. Boom!

I'm not gonna lie. This is a big reason why we run these races.

Some people take their medal pic in front of the castle. We take ours here.